An unusual encounter took place yesterday at United Square, Singapore. During a simultaneous chess challenge organised by the Singapore Chess Federation, my old friend and chess rival Terry Toh participated – not as one of the two “simul masters” (he is currently a retired international master or IM) – but as one of the participants against […]
The Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) journal – flagship journal of the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) – has just published online a letter describing the outbreak of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) among patrons of several LAN gaming centers in Singapore in 2012 (COI: I was involved at the laboratory end of investigations and am an […]
After a period of 6-7 years of “rational MRSA control’ targeted towards MRSA containment rather than eradication, many Singaporean public sector hospitals stepped up efforts to reduce their MRSA burden again. While it was clear that the infection control staff from different hospitals were communicating with each other, there was no overall or coordinated strategy among […]
I promised in an earlier post to discuss what I felt was the first major anti-MRSA campaign in Singapore. Although it occurred not too long ago (estimated 1994/5 – 1998/9), there are no easily obtainable records of what transpired, and I only started work right at the tail end of the “campaign” – at that […]
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) probably emerged in Singaporean hospitals in the 1970’s. The exact date, and whether the first isolates were imported from overseas or arose from within Singapore’s own S. aureus population is no longer known (or at least I have not been able to find someone who has a clear recollection of these events). We do have […]
“Or Sai” (“Black Lion” in Hokkien – due to the iconic black lion emblem of the centre) at Moulmein Road. The Communicable Diseases Centre will be moving to its new premises in 2018 (perhaps making way for another condominium block?), so there are a few short years to enjoy the nice green environs.
The newly renovated Tuberculosis Control Unit building and outpatient clinics. Airy and pleasant.
MIPHIDIC 