Infectious disease

From April 1, 2015, to March 31, 2016, 89 healthcare facilities participated in the surveillance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections, for a combined total of 4,851,752 inpatient days (Table 1). Together, these facilities reported 65 cases of healthcare-associated MRSA bloodstream infections (HA-MRSA-BSI). The incidence rate was 0.13 per 10,000 patient-days. This incidence rate of HA-MRSA-BSI has……

In 2010, the Comité sur les infections nosocomiales du Québec (CINQ) [Québec healthcare-associated infections committee] released its guidelines for preventing and controlling transmission of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, and then more recently, in 2015, its measures to prevent and control transmission of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli (MDR-GNB) in acute care settings.

The application of infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in long-term care…

From April 1, 2015, to March 31, 2016, 73 healthcare facilities took part in the surveillance of carbapenemase-producing Gram negative bacilli (CPGNB) infections, for a total of 3,749,277 patient days (Table 1). In total, four CPGNB infections were reported among patients who acquired their strain during a current or previous hospital stay in the reporting facility (categories 1a and 1b). The incidence rate of healthcare-associated CPGNB infection (cat. 1a and 1b) was 0.011 per 10,000…

From April 1^st, 2015, to March 31^st, 2016, 45 hemodialysis units took part in the surveillance of vascular access–related bloodstream infections (VARBSIs) in hemodialysis (HD) patients, for a combined total of 54,717 patient-periods (Table 1), slightly less than the preceding year. Participating units reported 136 VARBSIs in 129 patients. Patient-periods involving a fistula account for 41.0% of patient-periods. The 2015-2016…

From April 1, 2015, to March 31, 2016, 89 healthcare facilities took part in the surveillance of healthcare-associated vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infections, for a combined total of 4,833,086 patient days (Table 1). In total, 78 VRE infections were reported among patients who contracted strain during a current or previous hospital stay in the reporting facility (categories 1a and 1b). The incidence rate of healthcare-associated VRE infection (cat. 1a and 1b) was 0.16 per 10…

From April 1^st, 2015, to March 31^st, 2016, 87 healthcare facilities took part in the hospital-wide surveillance of bloodstream infections (BSIs), for a combined total of 4,770,053 patient-days (Table 1). Participating facilities reported 3,173 BSIs in 2,948 patients. The total 2015-2016 incidence rate is 5.45 cases per 10,000 patient-days for all facilities participating in 2015-2016, and it is 5.35 for facilities…

From April 1, 2015, to March 31, 2016, 95 healthcare facilities participated in the Clostridium difficile–associated diarrhea (CDAD) surveillance program, for a combined total of 5,048,411 inpatient days (Table 1). These participating facilities reported 2,977 cases of healthcare-associated CDAD (HA-CDAD). The incidence rate of HA-CDAD was 5.9 cases per 10,000 patient days. The 2015-2016 incidence rate was significantly lower than……

From April 1, 2015, to March 31, 2016, 89 healthcare facilities participated in the surveillance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections, for a combined total of 4,851,752 inpatient days (Table 1). Together, these facilities reported 65 cases of healthcare-associated MRSA bloodstream infections (HA-MRSA-BSI). The incidence rate was 0.13 per 10,000 patient-days. This incidence rate of HA-MRSA-BSI has……

Zika virus emerged in the Americas in 2015 and has since expanded its geographical range significantly. Currently, the virus is transmitted locally in 35 countries of the Caribbean, Central America and South America.

Zika virus infection is benign: 70 to 80% of patients have no symptoms, whereas 20% have a fever and rash accompanied by arthralgia and myalgia, conjunctivitis, headache, retro-orbital pain and fatigue.

Zika virus infection can cause neurological…

From April 1^st, 2015, to March 31^st, 2016, 66 intensive care units (ICUs) took part in surveillance of central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), for a combined total of 128,035 catheter-days (Table 1). Participating ICUs reported 150 CLABSIs in 139 patients. Incidence rates are 0.70 per 1,000 catheter-days in teaching adult ICUs, 0.42 in non-teaching adult ICUs, 1.95 in pediatric ICUs and 4.15 in neonatal ICUs…