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, Edwin Philip Conceicao, Jean Xiang-Ying Sim, May Kyawt Aung, Myat Oo Aung, Yang Yong, Shalvi Arora, Karrie Kwan-Ki Ko, Indumathi Venkatachalam
Author Information
Liang En Wee: Department of Infectious Diseases, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore. Electronic address: ian.wee.l.e@singhealth.com.sg.
Edwin Philip Conceicao: Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Jean Xiang-Ying Sim: Department of Infectious Diseases, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore; Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
May Kyawt Aung: Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Myat Oo Aung: Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Yang Yong: Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Shalvi Arora: Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Karrie Kwan-Ki Ko: Department of Molecular Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore; Department of Microbiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Indumathi Venkatachalam: Department of Infectious Diseases, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore; Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
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.
