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. 2022 Apr;50(4):465-468.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2022.01.009. Epub 2022 Jan 30.

Sporadic outbreaks of healthcare-associated COVID-19 infection in a highly-vaccinated inpatient population during a community outbreak of the B.1.617.2 variant: The role of enhanced infection-prevention measures

Liang En Wee  1 , Edwin Philip Conceicao  2 , Jean Xiang-Ying Sim  3 , May Kyawt Aung  2 , Myat Oo Aung  2 , Yang Yong  2 , Shalvi Arora  2 , Karrie Kwan-Ki Ko  4 , Indumathi Venkatachalam  3
Affiliations

Sporadic outbreaks of healthcare-associated COVID-19 infection in a highly-vaccinated inpatient population during a community outbreak of the B.1.617.2 variant: The role of enhanced infection-prevention measures

Liang En Wee et al. Am J Infect Control. 2022 Apr.

Abstract

Sporadic clusters of health care-associated COVID-19 infection occurred in a highly vaccinated health care-workers and patient population, over a 3-month period during ongoing community transmission of the B.1.617.2 variant. Enhanced infection-prevention measures and robust surveillance systems, including routine-rostered-testing of all inpatients and staff and usage of N95-respirators in all clinical areas, were insufficient in achieving zero health care-associated transmission. The unvaccinated and immunocompromised remain at-risk and should be prioritized for enhanced surveillance.

Keywords: Antigen test; Hospital; Infection control; Nosocomial; Outbreak; SARS-CoV-2.

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig. 1
Trends in COVID-19 cases detected in the community and amongst hospitalized inpatients in a Singaporean tertiary hospital over a 3-month period during a second pandemic wave attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 delta variant.
Fig 2
Fig. 2
Epidemiological clusters of potential health care-associated COVID-19 cases amongst hospitalized inpatients in a Singaporean tertiary hospital with high vaccination uptake, enhanced infection-prevention, and surveillance measures.
Fig 2
Fig. 2
Epidemiological clusters of potential health care-associated COVID-19 cases amongst hospitalized inpatients in a Singaporean tertiary hospital with high vaccination uptake, enhanced infection-prevention, and surveillance measures.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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Supplementary concepts