{
    "abstract": "While introduction of universal masking was associated with significant declines in healthcare-associated-respiratory-viral-infections (HA-RVI), subsequent studies have shown mixed results. We sought to evaluate the impact on HA-RVI when masking was continued in the post-pandemic period.\nObservational study in two Singaporean hospitals from 1\nDuring the pandemic, HA-RVI fell to near-zero. In the post-pandemic phase, when other mitigation measures were stood-down but masking in hospitals was continued, HA-RVI rebounded. Time-series analysis showed immediate decrease in HA-RVI following imposition of universal masking, together with other mitigation measures during the pandemic; post-pandemic, there was both an immediate increase in HA-RVI, as well as a significant increase in the trend of HA-RVI over time, despite continuation of masking.\nHA-RVI rebounded in the post-pandemic period after other mitigation measures were stood-down, even whilst masking continued in hospitals.",
    "authors": [
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore; Department of Infectious Diseases, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore; Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore; National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore. Electronic address: ian.wee.l.e@singhealth.com.sg.",
            "firstname": "Liang En",
            "initials": "LE",
            "lastname": "Wee"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Infectious Diseases, Changi General Hospital, Singapore.",
            "firstname": "Edwin Philip",
            "initials": "EP",
            "lastname": "Conceicao"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.",
            "firstname": "Mabel Zhi Qi",
            "initials": "MZQ",
            "lastname": "Foo"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore; Department of Infectious Diseases, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore; National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore.",
            "firstname": "Jean Xiang Ying",
            "initials": "JXY",
            "lastname": "Sim"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Infectious Diseases, Changi General Hospital, Singapore.",
            "firstname": "Hau Yiang",
            "initials": "HY",
            "lastname": "Cheong"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Microbiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.",
            "firstname": "Karrie Kwan Ki",
            "initials": "KKK",
            "lastname": "Ko"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.",
            "firstname": "Darius Yak Weng",
            "initials": "DYW",
            "lastname": "Chan"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.",
            "firstname": "May Kyawt",
            "initials": "MK",
            "lastname": "Aung"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.",
            "firstname": "Aung Myat",
            "initials": "AM",
            "lastname": "Oo"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.",
            "firstname": "Shalvi",
            "initials": "S",
            "lastname": "Arora"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.",
            "firstname": "Yong",
            "initials": "Y",
            "lastname": "Yang"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.",
            "firstname": "Lai Chee",
            "initials": "LC",
            "lastname": "Lee"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Laboratory Medicine, Changi General Hospital, Singapore.",
            "firstname": "Crystal Shie Lyeen",
            "initials": "CSL",
            "lastname": "Wong"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.",
            "firstname": "Moi Lin",
            "initials": "ML",
            "lastname": "Ling"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore; Department of Infectious Diseases, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.",
            "firstname": "Indumathi",
            "initials": "I",
            "lastname": "Venkatachalam"
        }
    ],
    "conclusions": null,
    "copyrights": "Copyright \u00a9 2025 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.",
    "doi": "10.1016/j.ajic.2025.04.009",
    "journal": "American journal of infection control",
    "keywords": [
        "Masking",
        "influenza",
        "nosocomial",
        "respiratory syncytial virus",
        "respiratory viral infection"
    ],
    "methods": null,
    "publication_date": "2025-04-27",
    "pubmed_id": "40287016",
    "results": "During the pandemic, HA-RVI fell to near-zero. In the post-pandemic phase, when other mitigation measures were stood-down but masking in hospitals was continued, HA-RVI rebounded. Time-series analysis showed immediate decrease in HA-RVI following imposition of universal masking, together with other mitigation measures during the pandemic; post-pandemic, there was both an immediate increase in HA-RVI, as well as a significant increase in the trend of HA-RVI over time, despite continuation of masking.",
    "title": "Trends in healthcare-associated non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory viral infections in conjunction with masking policies during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: a time-series analysis.",
    "xml": "<Element 'PubmedArticle' at 0x7885037adfd0>"
}