INTRODUCTION: Widespread mask use is an important intervention for control of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. However, data on the factors affecting mask use are lacking. In this observational study, we evaluated the proportion of and factors influencing face mask use and related hygiene practices. METHODS: We observed randomly selected members from the public in 367 venues across Singapore, and recorded the proportion of individuals with full compliance with mask use and mask hygiene (hand hygiene before and after touching the mask or face). Logistic regression analyses were used to determine variables associated with mask and hand hygiene compliance. RESULTS: We made 3,821 observations - 2,149 (56.2%) females, 3,569 (93.4%) adults (≥21 years), 212 (5.5%) children (6-20 years) and 40 (1.0%) children (2-5 years). The overall full compliance rate (correct mask use), poor compliance rate (incorrect mask use) and absent mask use were 84.5%, 12.9% and 2.6%, respectively. The factors - male gender, fabric mask usage and crowded indoor venues - were associated with lower mask compliance. Face or mask touching behaviour was observed in 10.7% and 13.7% of individuals observed, respectively. Only one individual performed hand hygiene before and after touching the mask. CONCLUSION The rate of mask compliance was high, probably due to legislation mandating mask usage. However, specific factors and crowded indoor venues associated with lower mask compliance were identified. We also noted an issue with the absence of hand hygiene before and after face or mask touching. These issues may benefit from targeted public health messaging.
Humans ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Singapore ; Masks ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Child ; Adolescent ; Hand Hygiene ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Young Adult ; Child, Preschool ; Pandemics/prevention & control* ; Middle Aged ; Patient Compliance/statistics & numerical data*

Objective: At the beginning of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Singapore, the strategy initially involved aggressive ring-fencing of infections, before pivoting towards managing recurrent local interspersed outbreaks of COVID-19. A key feature of Singapore’s efforts to preserve health-care capacity was the implementation of the nationwide Home Recovery Programme (HRP), whereby patients were allowed to recover at home as long as they met certain criteria. The programme was centrally coordinated by Singapore’s Ministry of Health and was supported by telemedicine providers, primary care physicians and government agencies. This report aims to highlight Singapore’s experience in coordinating and implementing the HRP, the challenges faced and the outcomes. Methods: Published and internal data from the Ministry of Health in Singapore, along with policy documents, were reviewed together with a brief literature review of similar programmes conducted globally. Results: Implementation of the HRP led to the majority of patients (98%) recovering from COVID-19 in the outpatient setting, with similar mortality rates to inpatient settings. Hospitalization rates for COVID-19 cases were reduced as compared to previously, alleviating strain on the health-care system. Discussion: The HRP was largely successful at preventing health-care capacities from being overwhelmed, while keeping fatalities to a minimum. Nonetheless, the risks of emergent variants of concern remain present, and heightened vigilance and potential modification of existing protocols based on fluctuations in virulence and infectivity are still needed.

The complete picture regarding transmission modes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is unknown. This review summarises the available evidence on its transmission modes, our preliminary research findings and implications for infection control policy, and outlines future research directions. Environmental contamination has been reported in hospital settings occupied by infected patients, and is higher in the first week of illness. Transmission via environmental surfaces or fomites is likely, but decontamination protocols are effective in minimising this risk. The extent of airborne transmission is also unclear. While several studies have detected SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid in air samples, none has isolated viable virus in culture. Transmission likely lies on a spectrum between droplet and airborne transmission, depending on the patient, disease and environmental factors. Singapore's current personal protective equipment and isolation protocols are sufficient to manage this risk.
COVID-19 ; Hospitals ; Humans ; Infection Control/methods* ; Personal Protective Equipment ; SARS-CoV-2

Monkeypox is a global health emergency. Prior to 2022, there were few reports of monkeypox outside of endemic countries, which were mostly travel-related. Since May 2022, an exponential increase in monkeypox infections in previously non-endemic countries has been reported. Unlike previous outbreaks of monkeypox, which were zoonotically transmitted and presented with generalised vesicular eruptions after prodromal symptoms, cases of the current outbreak feature significant travel and sexual history, and atypical localised genital eruptions with unpredictable onset relative to viral prodrome-like symptoms. We summarise the 15 Singapore cases reported to date as of August 2022, and highlight salient clinical clues that may aid physicians in narrowing the broad differential diagnosis of an acute vesicular genital eruption. Although research into vaccination and antiviral strategies is ongoing, monkeypox is currently conservatively managed. Clinical vigilance and a high index of suspicion are required to facilitate early detection and isolation of cases to contain transmission in Singapore.
Disease Outbreaks ; Humans ; Monkeypox/epidemiology* ; Singapore/epidemiology* ; Travel-Related Illness

Adult ; Asymptomatic Diseases ; COVID-19/virology* ; COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; RNA, Viral/isolation & purification* ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purification* ; Time Factors

INTRODUCTION: Chest radiographs (CXRs) are widely used for the screening and management of COVID-19. This article describes the radiographic features of COVID-19 based on an initial national cohort of patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of swab-positive patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to four different hospitals in Singapore between 22 January and 9 March 2020. Initial and follow-up CXRs were reviewed by three experienced radiologists to identify the predominant pattern and distribution of lung parenchymal abnormalities. RESULTS: In total, 347 CXRs of 96 patients were reviewed. Initial CXRs were abnormal in 41 (42.7%) out of 96 patients. The mean time from onset of symptoms to CXR abnormality was 5.3 ± 4.7 days. The predominant pattern of lung abnormality was ground-glass opacity on initial CXRs (51.2%) and consolidation on follow-up CXRs (51.0%). Multifocal bilateral abnormalities in mixed central and peripheral distribution were observed in 63.4% and 59.2% of abnormal initial and follow-up CXRs, respectively. The lower zones were involved in 90.2% of initial CXRs and 93.9% of follow-up CXRs. CONCLUSION In a cohort of swab-positive patients, including those identified from contact tracing, we found a lower incidence of CXR abnormalities than was previously reported. The most common pattern was ground-glass opacity or consolidation, but mixed central and peripheral involvement was more common than peripheral involvement alone.
COVID-19 ; Humans ; Lung/diagnostic imaging* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Singapore

INTRODUCTION: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in COVID-19 is associated with a high mortality rate, though outcomes of the different lung compliance phenotypes are unclear. We aimed to measure lung compliance and examine other factors associated with mortality in COVID-19 patients with ARDS. METHODS: Adult patients with COVID-19 ARDS who required invasive mechanical ventilation at 8 hospitals in Singapore were prospectively enrolled. Factors associated with both mortality and differences between high (<40mL/cm H RESULTS: A total of 102 patients with COVID-19 who required invasive mechanical ventilation were analysed; 15 (14.7%) did not survive. Non-survivors were older (median 70 years, interquartile range [IQR] 67-75 versus median 61 years, IQR 52-66; CONCLUSION COVID-19 ARDS patients with higher compliance on the day of intubation and a longitudinal decrease over time had a higher risk of death.
COVID-19 ; Humans ; Lung Compliance ; Phenotype ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome/therapy* ; SARS-CoV-2

Adult ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hantaan virus ; isolation & purification ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Male ; Singapore ; Travel

INTRODUCTIONChronic bacterial, viral and parasitic infections contribute to the morbidity and mortality associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This study investigated risk factors and time-trends of the seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus (CMV), toxoplasmosis and hepatitis A total antibody; and co-infection with syphilis, hepatitis B and hepatitis C among newly diagnosed HIV individuals in Singapore.

MATERIALS AND METHODSThis was a cross-sectional study. A random sample of 50% of HIV infected patients who visited the Communicable Disease Centre (CDC), Singapore for first-time care from January 2006 to December 2011 were analysed.

RESULTSAmong the 793 study subjects, 93.4% were male; 77.9% of them were of Chinese ethnicity; mean age at HIV diagnosis was 41.4 years; and the mean baseline CD4+ T-cell count was 222 cells/mm³. The prevalence of sero-reactivity for CMV was 96.8%; hepatitis A: 40.9%; and toxoplasmosis: 23.7%. Co-infection with syphilis was identified in 12.3%; hepatitis B: 8.1%; and hepatitis C: 2%. Among those co-infected with hepatitis C, 73.3% of them were intravenous drug user (IVDU). Syphilis co-infection was significantly more common among men who have sex with men (MSM) (multivariate OR: 2.53, 95% CI, 1.31 to 4.90, P = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONThis study described the baseline rates of HIV co-infection with syphilis, hepatitis B and C in Singapore, and sero-reactivity to CMV, toxoplasmosis and hepatitis A. The increased rates compared to the general population may have important consequences for disease progression, response to antiretroviral treatment and long-term general health.

Adult ; Coinfection ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Cytomegalovirus ; isolation & purification ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; blood ; epidemiology ; Female ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; Hepacivirus ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; blood ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Syphilis ; blood ; epidemiology ; Time Factors ; Toxoplasmosis ; blood ; epidemiology