Antibodies, Viral ; physiology ; Betacoronavirus ; physiology ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Coronavirus Infections ; diagnosis ; Cross Reactions ; physiology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Humans ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; diagnosis ; SARS Virus ; physiology

INTRODUCTIONFebrile neutropenia (FN) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Oncology/Haematology units. We launched a new protocol for FN management that incorporates risk stratification at our institute from October 2008. An audit was performed concurrently to evaluate the protocol and to define the epidemiology of FN locally.

MATERIALS AND METHODSCase records of all inpatients with FN between October 2008 and June 2009 were reviewed prospectively. Clinical and microbiological characteristics were collated along with outcomes and programme adherence. Statistical testing was performed using Stata 10.1.

RESULTSThere were 178 FN episodes (50 in patients with solid cancers) from 131 patients. Forty-two (23.6%) episodes were classified as high-risk according to MASCC criteria. Initial blood cultures were positive in 49 (27.5%) episodes, of which gram-negative bacilli (GNB) predominated. Overall compliance to the protocol was 56.7%, with the main issue being disinclination to use oral antibiotics as fi rst-line empirical therapy for low-risk episodes. Overall mortality was 7.3% and infection-related mortality was 4.5%. High-risk FN and the presence of central venous catheters were independently associated with bacteraemia on multivariate analysis, but there were no independent predictors of infection-related mortality.

CONCLUSIONSGNB accounted for the majority of bloodstream infections at our institute, unlike data from developed countries. Uptake of the new FN protocol was satisfactory, although the use of oral antibiotics as fi rst-line empirical therapy can be improved. A better method for predicting infections caused by antibiotic-resistant GNB is urgently required, and antibiotic resistance trends should be monitored to enable the implementation of more appropriate antibiotic regimens over time.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Female ; Fever ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Audit ; Middle Aged ; Neutropenia ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Prospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Singapore ; Young Adult

Adult ; Anticarcinogenic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Humans ; Interdisciplinary Communication ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Treatment Outcome

Assessment of psychosocial and psychiatric needs is an increasingly important component of cancer care. Clinical experience with patients indicate that distress, anxiety and depression are prevalent from early stages of the illness. Strategies to enhance psychosocial care are presented and these include early identification through screening, training for healthcare staff working with cancer patients and support not only for patients but their caregivers as well.
Anxiety ; diagnosis ; Anxiety Disorders ; Caregivers ; Depression ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; psychology

INTRODUCTIONThe survival and epidemiology of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) in Singapore has not been described. We aim to present the characteristics as well as determine the survival outcome and important prognostic factors for SCLC patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODSA retrospective analysis of SCLC patients diagnosed from 1999 to 2002 was conducted at the Outram campus, Singapore. Clinical characteristics and treatment data were obtained from case records and survival data were checked with the registry of births and deaths on 30 May 2005.

RESULTSOne hundred and eleven patients were analysed. There were 38 (34.2%) limited-disease (LD) patients and 73 (65.8%) extensive-disease (ED) patients. The majority were current or former smokers (94.7% among LD and 94.5% among ED). More patients with LD had good performance status (92% versus 63%, P = 0.0003) and were treated with combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy (82% versus 48%, P = 0.012). The median survival time of LD patients treated with curative chemoradiotherapy was 14.2 months (95% CI, 10.96 to 17.44). Those given prophylactic cranial irradiation had a median survival time of 16.9 months (95% CI, 11.83 to 21.97). For ED patients, the median survival time was 8.17 months (95%CI, 5.44 to 10.89). None of the factors analysed were significant prognostic factors for LD patients while performance status and type of treatment given were significant among ED patients.

CONCLUSIONSWe found that the characteristics and survival of SCLC patients in Singapore are fairly similar to that of other countries.

Aged ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; mortality ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; mortality ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore ; epidemiology

INTRODUCTIONFebrile neutropenia (FN) is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in oncology and haematology units worldwide. The overall mortality in hospital surveys in Singapore surveys on post-chemotherapy FN has ranged between 3.0% and 8.8%. However, recent evidence indicates that outpatient management of patients with low-risk FN is safe and cost-effective.

MATERIALS AND METHODSWe conducted a prospective audit on a cohort of adult patients with post-chemotherapy FN seen at 2 local public sector cancer centres over a 1-year period in order to define their epidemiological characteristics and outcomes, and also to assess the uptake of early discharge/outpatient management strategies for these patients.

RESULTSWe reviewed 306 FN episodes from 248 patients. Patient characteristics and outcomes were similar between both institutions. Eleven (3.7%) FN episodes were managed as outpatient and none developed complications. Overall 30-day mortality was 6.6%, while the median length of stay (LOS) was 7 days (IQR: 4 to 11 days). The only independent risk factor for mortality was severe sepsis (OR:13.19; 95% CI: 1.98 to 87.7; P = 0.008). Factors independently associated with a longer LOS were vancomycin prescription (coefficient: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.08 to 0.41; P = 0.003), longer duration of intravenous antibiotics (coefficient: 0.08; 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.10; P <0.001), and prior review by an infectious diseases physician (coefficient: 0.16; 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.31; P = 0.034).

CONCLUSIONThis audit demonstrated that mortality from FN in our 2 cancer centres is low and comparable to international institutions. It also demonstrates that outpatient management of FN is safe in selected patients, and can be further expanded for right-siting of resources.

Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; Bacterial Infections ; epidemiology ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Fever ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycoses ; epidemiology ; Neoplasms ; complications ; drug therapy ; Neutropenia ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Prospective Studies ; Singapore ; epidemiology

Aged ; Feasibility Studies ; Health Status ; Humans ; Mobile Applications ; Treatment Outcome

INTRODUCTIONIt has been established that combined chemoradiotherapy treatment benefits selected patients with stage III Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). However, locoregional recurrence still poses a problem. The addition of surgery as the third modality may provide a possible solution. We report our experience of using the triple-modality approach in this group of patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODSThis is a retrospective review of 33 patients with stage III NSCLC treated between 1997 and 2005. Patients have good performance status and no significant weight loss. There were 26 males (79 %) with median age of 63 years (range, 43 to 74) and median follow-up of 49 months. Seventy-six percent had Stage IIIA disease. Chemotherapy consisted of paclitaxel at 175 mg/m2 over 3 hours followed by carboplatin at AUC of 5 over 1 hour. Thoracic radiotherapy was given concurrently with the second and third cycles of chemotherapy. All patients received 50 Gray in 25 fractions over 5 weeks.

RESULTSThe main toxicities were grade 3/4 neutropenia (30%), grade 3 infection (15 %) and grade 3 oesophagitis (9%). Twenty-five patients (76%) underwent surgery. Of the 8 who did not undergo surgery, 1 was deemed medically unfit after induction chemoradiotherapy and 4 had progressive disease; 3 declined surgery. Nineteen patients (58 %) had lobectomy and 6 had pneumonectomy. The median overall survival was 29.9 months and 12 patients are still in remission.

CONCLUSIONThe use of the triplemodality approach is feasible, with an acceptable tolerability and resectability rate in this group of patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Carboplatin ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; surgery ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Paclitaxel ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Pneumonectomy ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Retrospective Studies

Background: Data on prevalence and type of mucocutaneous diseases in HIV-positive patients and their impact on quality of life (QoL) are sparse. We aim to determine prevalence and type of mucocutaneous disorders, their correlation to CD4+ counts and impact on QoL for adults with HIV, using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Methods: A cross-sectional study of HIV-infected adults seen in HIV and Dermatology Clinic. Results: The majority (90%) of 174 participants recruited was male. Median age at diagnosis of HIV infection was 29 years (IQR 10). Mucocutaneous disorders were present in 90.2%, out of which 58.6% had two or more mucocutaneous disorders. Mean CD4+ count was significantly lower in patients with, compared to those without mucocutaneous disorders (363 vs 548 cells/µL; p=0.030). Infections accounted for 67.2% of all mucocutaneous disorders seen, followed by inflammatory dermatoses (51.7%), cutaneous adverse drug reactions (17.8%) and neoplasm (2.3%). The five most frequent manifestations were eczema (22.4%), anogenital warts (21.2%), candidiasis (16.7%), dermatophytosis (15.5%) and secondary syphilis (12.0%). Oral candidiasis, pruritic papular eruption, drug-induced maculopapular eruption and drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms were significantly more prevalent in patients with CD4+ counts <200 cells/µL but anogenital warts were more prevalent in patients with CD4+ counts ≥200 cells/µL. The mean DLQI score was 8.39 (SD ± 6.83). QoL was severely impaired (DLQI >10) in 34.4%. Conclusion Mucocutaneous disorders were common in HIV patients causing significant impairment in quality of life. Prevalence co-related with low CD4+ counts. Adequate management of HIV may reduce the prevalence of mucocutaneous disorders and improve QoL.
HIV Infections ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome

INTRODUCTIONFamily caregivers of cancer patients often suffer from impaired quality of life (QOL) due to stress arising from the responsibility of caregiving. Most research on such QOL impairments was conducted in Western populations. Thus, this exploratory study sought to (a) examine the QOL levels of family caregivers of cancer patients in an Asian population in Singapore, in relation to caregivers from other countries within and outside of Asia; and (b) investigate the association between sociodemographic factors and QOL impairments in family caregivers in Singapore.

METHODSA total of 258 family caregivers of cancer patients who were receiving outpatient treatment completed the Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer (CQOLC) and a sociodemographic survey. We compared the published CQOLC total scores from Turkey, Iran, Taiwan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada with the Singapore dataset and examined the demographic relationships.

RESULTSCaregivers in Singapore and Asia had lower CQOLC total scores than their Western counterparts. Caregivers who were male, of Chinese ethnicity, had parental relationships with their care recipient, or cared for advanced-stage cancer patients were found to have impaired QOL.

CONCLUSIONThe findings of this study highlight possible areas in which support can be provided for family caregivers of cancer patients, and underscore the need to reconcile cultural diversity, values, societal expectations and demographic characteristics in Singapore.