Infectious disease

Highlights, Discussions and Orientations 2012-2013 : Healthcare-Associated Infections Provincial Surveillance Program

The ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) mandated the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) with the provincial surveillance of healthcare-associated infections (HAI), as outlined in the 2003–2012 Programme national de santé publique (Public Health Plan), revised in 2008 as well as in the 2006–2009 and 2010–2015 versions of the Plan d’action sur la prévention et le contrôle des infections nosocomiales (Action Plan for Preventing and Controlling HAIs) aimed at reducing the transmission of HAIs in Québec’s healthcare facilities.

The INSPQ set up a structured surveillance program to support public health administrations and local infection prevention and control teams in general and specialized healthcare facilities. The program includes a set of standardized tools and educational activities focusing on infections categorized as “priorities” by the MSSS and by the INSPQ’s Comité des infections nosocomiales du Québec (CINQ) and the Groupe de trava…

Surveillance provinciale des infections nosocomiales

Integrated West Nile Virus Surveillance

A new government intervention plan was adopted in early 2013 to protect public health against West Nile virus (WNV) infection, since WNV infection epidemiological activity had resumed in Québec in 2011 and 2012. This new plan establishes the strategy to be pursued for the years 2013 to 2015. The primary objective of the strategy adopted by public health authorities is to prevent the complications and human mortality related to WNV infection.

Interventions are planned to combat the WNV vector, namely mosquitoes. The intervention plan also includes communication activities aimed at the general public and health care and social services network professionals. An integrated surveillance program was set up in 2013 to continue monitoring the situation. This program allows us to characterize WNV activity in Québec in humans and animals.

This analysis plan was prepared by the Institut national de santé publique du Québec's Groupe d'experts scientifiques sur le VNO [WNV…

West Nile Virus Infection Surveillance in Québec: 2013 Season

In 2013, integrated surveillance of West Nile virus (WNV) in Québec included epidemiological surveillance of human cases, entomological surveillance of mosquitoes and surveillance of animals, including wild birds and domestic animals (agricultural).

During this season, 30 human cases of WNV infection were acquired in Québec, including 29 confirmed cases and one probable case. Of these, 23 (77%) were classed as WNV neuroinvasive cases and 22 were hospitalized, including eight people who were admitted to intensive care and one person who died of meningitis caused by WNV.

The average age of cases was 59 years and two thirds of the cases were men (20/30). More than 70% of the human cases occurred in the Montérégie, Montréal and Laval regions. Of the reported animals that were confirmed positive, nearly 66% were found in these same regions. A total of 2,530 mosquito pools were tested for WNV in 2013, and 60 pools (2.4%) tested positive.

In…

Ebola Virus Disease: Prevention and Control Measures for Hospitals - Update september 2014

An outbreak of Ebola virus disease has been ongoing in West Africa since March 2014. It is the largest outbreak known to date. Although low, the threat of importing Ebola virus disease cannot be excluded. Ebola Virus Disease has a fatality rate of 50% to 90%.

This fact sheet sets out the recommendations of the Comité sur les infections nosocomiales du Québec (CINQ) for Ebola virus disease prevention and control measures for Québec hospitals. Notwithstanding the transmission of the disease through contact and droplets, the CINQ recommends more important measures to take into account possible airborne transmission, significant environmental contamination by blood, body fluids, secretions or excretions, and high Ebola virus disease fatality.

Hospitals must implement the measures necessary to prevent the transmission of Ebola virus disease. The quantity of material to be provided can differ by a hospital as designated for the management of patients with confirm…

Comité sur les infections nosocomiales du Québec

Initial Dose of a Multicomponent Serogroup B Meningococcal Vaccine in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean Region, Québec, Canada: An Interim Safety Surveillance Report

To control the spread of the meningococcal serogroup B disease in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region which has had a higher incidence rate compared with the rest of the province since 2004, a vaccination campaign was undertaken and targeted individuals 20 years and younger residing in or attending an educational institution in this region. An enhanced surveillance system was implemented to monitor the onset of adverse events following immunization (AEFI) in real time in order to be able to promptly notify the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS, Ministry of Health and Social Services) and the Direction de la santé publique (DSP, public health unit) of the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean Health Region (RSS 02) about the occurrence of a safety issue in connection with this new quadrivalent serogroup B Meningococcal vaccine (4CMenB).

Methodology

This report covers the experiences of individuals residing in region 02 who…

Ebola Virus Disease: Prevention and Control Measures for Hospitals

An outbreak of Ebola virus disease has been ongoing in West Africa since March 2014. It is the largest outbreak known to date. Although low, the threat of importing Ebola virus disease cannot be excluded. Ebola virus disease has a fatality rate of 50% to 90%.

This fact sheet sets out the recommendations of the Comité sur les infections nosocomiales du Québec (CINQ) for Ebola virus disease prevention and control measures for Québec hospitals. Notwithstanding the transmission of the disease through contact and droplets, the CINQ recommends stronger measures to take into account possible airborne transmission, significant environmental contamination by blood, body fluids, secretions or excretions, and high Ebola virus disease fatality.

Hospitals must implement the measures necessary to prevent the transmission of Ebola virus disease.

Last, it is important to remind clinicians and prevention and control teams of Québec health institutions that other infectio…

Comité sur les infections nosocomiales du Québec

Vascular Access–Related Bloodstream Infections in Hemodialysis Patients: surveillance 2013-2014

Vascular Access–Related Bloodstream Infections in Hemodialysis Patients
Surveillance results: 2013-2014

From April 1st, 2013, to March 31st, 2014, 44 hemodialysis units took part in the surveillance of vascular access–related bloodstream infections (VARBSIs) in hemodialysis (HD) patients, for a combined total of 54,878 patient-periods (Table 1). Participating units reported 157 VARBSIs in 149 patients. Patient-periods involving a fistula accounted for 44.9% of patient-periods. The VARBSI incidence rate was 0.10 cases per 100 patient-periods for patients with an arteriovenous (AV) fistula, 0.22 for patients with a synthetic fistula (graft), 0.38 for patients with a permanent catheter and 6.20 for patients with a temporary catheter. In 2013-2014, inciden…

Surveillance provinciale des infections nosocomiales

Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infections in Intensive Care Units: surveillance 2013-2014

Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infections in Intensive Care Units
Surveillance results: 2013-2014

From April 1st, 2013, to March 31st, 2014, 70 intensive care units (ICUs) took part in surveillance of central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), for a combined total of 132,376 catheter-days (Table 1). Participating ICUs reported 165 CLABSIs in 149 patients. Incidence rates were 0.65 per 1,000 catheter-days in coronary ICUs, 0.71 in teaching adult ICUs, 0.77 in non-teaching adult ICUs, 2.48 in pediatric ICUs and 4.01 in neonatal ICUs. The incidence rates in 2013-2014 were lower compared to 2009-2013 in teaching and non-teaching adult ICUs as well as in neonatal ICUs while pediatric and coronary ICUs pooled mean rates remained statistically sta…

Surveillance provinciale des infections nosocomiales

Hospital-Wide Healthcare-associated Bloodstream Infections: surveillance 2013-2014

Hospital-Wide Healthcare-associated Bloodstream Infections
Surveillance results: 2013-2014

From April 1st, 2013, to March 31st, 2014, 77 healthcare facilities took part on a voluntary basis in the hospital-wide surveillance of bloodstream infections (BSIs), for a combined total of 4,149,763 patient-days (Table 1). Participating facilities reported 2,689 BSIs in 2,495 patients. The total incidence rate was 5.4 cases per 10,000 patient-days. The incidence rate in 2013-2014 was significantly lower compared with the average rate for 2009-2013 in facilities that took part in both surveillance periods. Two teaching and 11 non-teaching facilities that were not included in the 2012-2013 study joined the program in 2013-2014. Data was extracted on May 15th…

Surveillance provinciale des infections nosocomiales

Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE) Infections : surveillance results 2013–2014

Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE) Infections
Surveillance Results: 2013-2014

From April 1, 2013, to March 31, 2014, 89 healthcare facilities took part in the surveillance of healthcare-associated vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infections, for a combined total of 4,948,058 patient days (Table 1). In total, 92 VRE infections were reported among patients who contracted strain during a current or previous hospital stay in the reporting facility (categories 1a + 1b). The incidence rate of healthcare-associated VRE infections (cat. 1a + 1b) was 0.19 / 10,000 patient days. This incidence rate was two times higher than 2012-2013. The acquisition rate of healthcare-associated VRE colonization (cat. 1a + 1b) was 9.77 / 10,000 patient days. Data was extracted on May 15th, 2014.  

Updat…

Surveillance provinciale des infections nosocomiales