Infectious disease

Measures to Prevent and Control Transmission of Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacilli in Acute Care Settings in Québec

Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) are bacteria frequently encountered in clinical settings, both as normal flora and as pathogens in a variety of infections. The use of antibiotics has led to the emergence of various resistance mechanisms and some of these bacteria are now resistant to several classes of antibiotics. This document has been prepared to help healthcare-associated infection prevention and control (IPC) teams recognize the major multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli (MDR-GNB) and…

Professional practice guidelines

Guide for the Management of Outbreaks of Clostridium difficile–Associated Diarrhea (CDAD) in Hospitals

Clostridium difficile is the leading cause of healthcare-associated infectious diarrhea in adults, affecting 0.3–2% of hospitalized patients. The epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, risk factors, diagnosis and management of cases of Clostridium difficile–associated diarrhea (CDAD) were the subject of a previous publication. The incidence of CDAD varies widely across and within institutions.

In 2003, a marked increase was observed in the incidence,…

Professional practice guidelines

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…

Synthesis and summary

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…

Reference framework

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…

Monitoring report

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…

Professional practice guidelines

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…

Monitoring report

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…

Professional practice guidelines

Vascular Access–Related Bloodstream Infections in Hemodialysis Patients: surveillance 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…

Monitoring report

Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infections in Intensive Care Units: surveillance 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…

Monitoring report