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IgG assay in COVID-19 patients. Methods: Residual sera from 177 symptomatic SARS-CoV-2-positive patients and 163 non-COVID-19 patients were tested for antibody with the Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay (Abbott Diagnostics, Chicago, USA). Clinical records for COVID-19 patients were reviewed to determine the time from onset of clinical illness to testing. Results: Specificity of the assay was 100.0% (95%CI: 97.1e100.0%). The clinical sensitivity of the assay varied depending on time from onset of symptoms, increasing with longer periods from the onset of clinical illness. The clinical sensitivity at 6 days was 8.6% (7/81; 95%CI: 3.8e17.5%), at 7e13 days 43.6% (17/39; 95%CI: 28.2e60.2%), at 14e20 days 84.0% (21/25; 95%CI: 63.1e94.7%), and at 21 days 84.4% (27/ 32; 95%CI: 66.5e94.1%). Clinical sensitivity was higher in the 14-day group compared to <14 days. There were no differences between the 14e20-day and 21-days groups; the combined clinical sensitivity for these groups (14 days) was 84.2% (49/57; 71.6e92.1%). Conclusion:The Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG test has high specificity. Clinical sensitivity was limited in the early stages of disease but improved from 14 days after the onset of clinical symptoms.

This survey suggested a high prevalence of HAIs and AMU in Singapore's acute-care hospitals. While further research is necessary to understand the causes and costs of HAIs and AMU in Singapore, repeated PPSs over the next decade will be useful to gauge progress at controlling HAIs and AMU.

Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) and non-HCWs may contribute to the transmission of influenza-like illness (ILI) to colleagues and susceptible patients by working while sick (presenteeism). The present study aimed to explore the views and behavior of HCWs and non-HCWs towards the phenomenon of working while experiencing ILI. Methods The study was a cross-sectional online survey conducted between October 2018 and January 2019 to explore sickness presenteeism and the behaviour of HCWs and non-HCWs

The efficacy of nitrofurazone-coated urinary catheter in inhibitory activity of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) was evaluated. The incidence rate and onset of CAUTI after catheterisation of standard silicone urinary catheters and nitrofurazone-coated catheters was compared. There was no statistical significance between the two groups in the incidence rate of CAUTI. However, in patients who had indwelling urinary catheters for 5-7 days, the incidence rate of CAUTI was significantly lower in the experimental group. Logistic regression analysis showed that the two variables, including age and period of insertion, affected the incidence rate of CAUTI significantly. Nitrofurazone-coated catheters can be useful for inhibition of CAUTI in patients who have indwelling urinary catheter for 5-7 days and in old-age patients.

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Pandemic preparedness plans must include cities that are global trading hubs.

The influenza virus infects millions of people each year and can result in severe complications. Understanding virus recognition and host responses to influenza infection will enable future development of more effective anti-viral therapies. Previous research has revealed diverse yet important roles for the annexin family of proteins in modulating the course of influenza A virus (IAV) infection. However, the role of Annexin-A1 (ANXA1) in IAV infection has not been addressed. Here, we show that ANXA1 deficient mice exhibit a survival advantage, and lower viral titers after infection. This was accompanied with enhanced inflammatory cell infiltration during IAV infection. ANXA1 expression is increased during influenza infection clinically, in vivo and in vitro. The presence of ANXA1 enhances viral replication, influences virus binding, and enhances endosomal trafficking of the virus to the nucleus. ANXA1 colocalizes with early and late endosomes near the nucleus, and enhances nuclear accumulation of viral nucleoprotein. In addition, ANXA1 enhances IAV-mediated apoptosis. Overall, our study demonstrates that ANXA1 plays an important role in influenza virus replication and propagation through various mechanisms and that we predict that the regulation of ANXA1 expression during IAV infection may be a viral strategy to enhance its infectivity.