Canada communicable disease report = Releve des maladies transmissibles au Canada最新文献

{"title":"Summary of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) Statement: Updated guidance to protect infants and children from respiratory syncytial virus disease.","authors":"April Killikelly, Winnie Siu, Nicholas Brousseau","doi":"10.14745/ccdr.v52i06a01","DOIUrl":"10.14745/ccdr.v52i06a01","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of hospitalization among Canadian infants. In March 2026, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) released updated guidance reflecting new evidence on the monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) nirsevimab (Beyfortus®) and clesrovimab (Enflosia) and the RSVpreF pregnancy vaccine (Abrysvo). This article summarizes NACI's updated guidance on protecting infants and children from severe RSV disease.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>To develop the statement, NACI used its standard evidence-based process, reviewing clinical trial data, real world effectiveness studies, RSV epidemiology, and Canadian cost utility modelling, as well as ethics, equity, feasibility and acceptability considerations, to inform program recommendations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Both mAbs and the RSVpreF vaccine demonstrated strong protection against RSV related hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and medically attended illness in infants. All products showed favourable safety profiles. The RSVpreF vaccine was effective when administered ≥14 days prior to delivery. Economic modelling indicated that a combined program of RSVpreF vaccination during pregnancy and targeted infant mAb administration offers the best value for money at current product prices. NACI strongly recommends universal seasonal RSV immunization for infants. Jurisdictions may choose either 1) a universal infant mAb program or 2) a combined pregnancy RSVpreF vaccination plus targeted infant mAb administration program. Infants at increased risk of severe RSV disease should receive mAbs regardless of gestational RSVpreF vaccination status.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Universal seasonal RSV immunization will substantially reduce RSV associated morbidity in infants and could likely be achieved through both program approaches. At current product list prices, the combined pregnancy-infant program offers better value than a universal mAb program. Jurisdictions should consider local epidemiology, feasibility, cost-effectiveness considerations and equity when selecting a program model.</p>","PeriodicalId":94304,"journal":{"name":"Canada communicable disease report = Releve des maladies transmissibles au Canada","volume":"52 6","pages":"223-226"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13464560/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148724279","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Economic evaluation of wastewater surveillance in Ontario, Canada, using COVID-19 as a case study.","authors":"Yeva Sahakyan, David Champredon, Prakathesh Rabeenthira, Alex Rodriguez Barizonte, Manon Fleury, Beate Sander","doi":"10.14745/ccdr.v52i06a04","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14745/ccdr.v52i06a04","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic has stimulated the use of wastewater surveillance (WWS) in Canada.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To inform continued investment, the study assessed the cost-utility of WWS, alongside conventional surveillance, compared to conventional surveillance alone, using COVID-19 in Ontario as an example.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This model-based cost-utility analysis measured WWS effectiveness by increased lead time of 1-10 days for public health response using the Ontario health system perspective. The model integrated SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics, SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentration in the sewage system, and disease progression. The analysis considered year-round surveillance with an outbreak occurring once in a decade, assuming WWS benefits accrue only in the outbreak year. At the individual-level, a lifetime time horizon was used and future health outcomes (quality-adjusted life years [QALYs]) and cost were discounted at 1.5%. The model was informed by population-based administrative data and was calibrated to real-world Ontario surveillance data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>For Omicron/BA.1-like outbreaks, a WWS program with a $15 million CAD/year budget maintained over 10 years would be cost-effective at a $50,000 CAD/QALY threshold if it detects an outbreak three or more days earlier, and cost-saving if it detects an outbreak 10 or more days earlier than conventional surveillance. For a less severe outbreak with lower transmission rates, e.g., XBB-like, the WWS program would be cost-effective if at least six outbreaks occur in a decade.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study findings suggest that long-term investments in WWS are likely cost-effective for low-frequency but high-impact outbreaks. Maintaining WWS infrastructure will enhance Canada's emergency preparedness for emerging and re-emerging pathogens.</p>","PeriodicalId":94304,"journal":{"name":"Canada communicable disease report = Releve des maladies transmissibles au Canada","volume":"52 6","pages":"246-255"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13475503/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148763719","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>Mycobacterium abscessus</i> soft tissue infections associated with subcutaneous injection of lipolytic agents: An outbreak report and novel molecular epidemiology analysis approach.","authors":"Xavier Quan-Nguyen, Nicholas Waglechner, Maxime Veillette, Pier-Alexandre Vasil, Floriane Point, Bouchra Tannir, Melissa Zarandi-Nowroozi, Catherine Tsimiklis, Nadine Pétrin, Marty Teltscher, Anna Urbanek, Pierre-Marie Akochy, Joseph Cox, Robyn Lee, Simon Grandjean Lapierre","doi":"10.14745/ccdr.v52i06a05","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14745/ccdr.v52i06a05","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Management of <i>Mycobacterium abscessus</i> (<i>M. abscessus</i>) skin and soft tissue infections outbreaks require collaboration between clinicians, public health authorities and reference laboratories providing bacterial molecular identification and genotyping.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study reports on a <i>M. abscessus</i> skin and soft tissue outbreak linked to mesotherapy treatments in Montréal, Canada. We present an innovative approach combining Nanopore long read and Illumina short read whole-genome sequencing data with a novel open access bioinformatic molecular epidemiology pipeline to support public health investigations by identifying genomically related isolates.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Public health investigations and physician questionnaires were used for outbreak identification and investigation. The complete genomes of six isolates from four individuals were sequenced. Nanopore and Illumina data were combined to assemble genomes <i>de novo</i> using a hybrid approach. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified within each genome by mapping the short reads to a reference genome. Single nucleotide polymorphisms distances among isolates, and between isolates and the reference genome were used alongside core SNP alignment analyses to evaluate genetic similarity between isolates and other contemporary <i>M. abscessus</i> genomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Identified individuals had received mesotherapy injections from the same esthetician within a one-month period. Outbreak isolates were genomically nearly identical, differing by only 0-2 SNPs when using the earliest collected isolate as a reference. A phylogenetic tree revealed genetic distinctness between outbreak isolates and other contemporary <i>M. abscessus</i> isolates from Montréal.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Genomic sequencing and the presented bioinformatic approach can identify <i>M. abscessus</i> genomic relatedness suggestive of clinical outbreaks. This approach can support public health investigations, particularly when epidemiological links are uncertain.</p>","PeriodicalId":94304,"journal":{"name":"Canada communicable disease report = Releve des maladies transmissibles au Canada","volume":"52 6","pages":"256-263"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13475720/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148761260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Summary of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) Statement: Updated guidance on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines for older adults and for adults at high risk of severe RSV disease.","authors":"Joseline Zafack, Elissa M Abrams, Nicholas Brousseau","doi":"10.14745/ccdr.v52i06a02","DOIUrl":"10.14745/ccdr.v52i06a02","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that can have serious complications for older adults and adults with certain medical conditions. Since July 2024, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has provided immunization guidance for the protection of older adults against RSV. In April 2026, NACI updated its guidance to reflect emerging epidemiological data identifying younger adults at high risk of severe RSV and evidence on the benefits of RSV vaccines in older adults and adults at high risk.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>NACI reviewed available evidence on the benefits and risks of RSV vaccination in older adults and individuals at higher risk, as well as additional factors, including ethics, equity, feasibility, acceptability and cost-effectiveness.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The RSV disease burden in younger adults with certain underlying conditions is comparable to that in older adults. Among older adults, RSV infection may increase the risk of cardiovascular events and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). The RSV vaccines demonstrate strong protection against RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease and severe outcomes, with favourable safety profiles. Monitoring for rare adverse events following immunization, total duration of protection, and need for boosters is ongoing.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>NACI expanded the use of RSV vaccines to some adults at high risk for whom the balance of clinical benefits, safety and feasibility is favourable. NACI strongly recommends RSV immunization programs for all adults aged 75 years and older; adults aged 65-74 who are at increased risk of severe RSV disease; and adults aged 18 years and older who reside in chronic care facilities, have received a lung or hematopoietic stem cell transplant, are receiving home or chronic oxygen therapy, or are receiving dialysis. For other adults, vaccination may be considered on an individual basis.</p>","PeriodicalId":94304,"journal":{"name":"Canada communicable disease report = Releve des maladies transmissibles au Canada","volume":"52 6","pages":"227-230"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13464561/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148724936","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Laboratory diagnosis of pertussis: A survey on provincial public health laboratory methods.","authors":"Courtney Meilleur, Jennifer Grant, Gregory Tyrrell, Jessica Minion, Paul Van Caeseele, Julianne Kus, Brigitte Lefebvre, Todd Hatchette, Guillaume Desnoyers, Lei Jiao, Heidi Paulin, Raymond Tsang","doi":"10.14745/ccdr.v52i05a03","DOIUrl":"10.14745/ccdr.v52i05a03","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pertussis, a vaccine preventable respiratory illness caused by the bacterium <i>Bordetella pertussis</i> (<i>B. pertussis</i>), has been a nationally reportable disease in Canada for over 100 years; however, cases resurged in Canada and globally in 2023-2024.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To examine the breadth and depth of pertussis strain surveillance currently being carried out across Canada.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A survey was sent to all ten provincial public health laboratories inquiring how pertussis was diagnosed or identified in the laboratory, including the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic methods, bacteriological culture, identification and strain characterization such as molecular typing and antibiotic susceptibility testing.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Nine of the ten provincial laboratories provided responses. Five provincial laboratories reported performing bacteriological culture, and some only from specimens that tested positive by PCR. Long-term storage of submitted and historical specimens took place in six laboratories. Identification of <i>B. pertussis</i> was commonly done through matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) analysis, though immunochemical and PCR-based methods were also used. One laboratory conducted antibiotic susceptibility testing in specific circumstances. No laboratory performed fimbriae serotyping or examined expression of other pertussis vaccine antigens. One laboratory used whole-genome sequencing for outbreak investigation. The PCR diagnostics were performed in eight of the responding laboratories and always include IS481 and pIS1001 gene targets. Some laboratories also reported using other gene targets to identify and distinguish between <i>B. pertussis</i>, <i>B. parapertussis</i>, <i>B. holmesii</i> and <i>B. bronchiseptica.</i></p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Given the global increase in pertussis, with the emergence of macrolide-resistant and pertactin-deficient strains, strain characterization should be added to the Canadian national pertussis surveillance program.</p>","PeriodicalId":94304,"journal":{"name":"Canada communicable disease report = Releve des maladies transmissibles au Canada","volume":"52 5","pages":"184-193"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13308499/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148348133","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance in Canadian acute care hospitals, 2020-2024.","authors":"","doi":"10.14745/ccdr.v52i05a05","DOIUrl":"10.14745/ccdr.v52i05a05","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continue to contribute to excess morbidity and mortality among Canadians.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To describe epidemiologic and laboratory characteristics and trends of HAIs and AMR, 2020-2024, using surveillance and laboratory data submitted by hospitals to the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program (CNISP) and by provincial and territorial laboratories to the National Microbiology Laboratory.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data was collected from 109 Canadian sentinel acute care hospitals between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2024 for <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> infections (CDI), methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA) bloodstream infections (BSIs), vancomycin-resistant <i>Enterococcus</i> (VRE) BSIs (specifically <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i> and <i>Enterococcus faecium</i>), carbapenemase-producing <i>Enterobacterales</i> (CPE) and carbapenemase-producing <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> (CPA) infections and colonizations and <i>Candidozyma auris</i> (<i>C. auris</i>; formerly <i>Candida auris</i>) infections. Trend analysis for case counts, incidence rates (rates), outcomes, molecular characterization and AMR profiles are presented.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>From 2020 to 2024, rates remained relatively stable for CDI (range: 5.01-5.38 infections per 10,000 patient days) and MRSA BSI (range: 0.99-1.16 infections per 10,000 patient days) and increased significantly for VRE BSIs (from 0.30 to 0.42 infections per 10,000 patient days; <i>p</i>=0.01). During this time, infection rates for CPE remained low compared to other HAIs but increased significantly (rates: 0.05-0.20; <i>p</i>=0.03), CPA counts continue to remain very low (n=22 infections) and <i>C. auris</i> counts remained low compared to other HAIs (n=43 isolates).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The incidence of MRSA BSIs and CDI remained stable and VRE BSIs and CPE infections increased in the Canadian acute care hospitals participating in CNISP. An increased number of <i>C. auris</i> isolates were identified. Reporting standardized surveillance data to inform the application of infection prevention and control practices in acute care hospitals is critical to help decrease the burden of HAIs and AMR in Canada.</p>","PeriodicalId":94304,"journal":{"name":"Canada communicable disease report = Releve des maladies transmissibles au Canada","volume":"52 5","pages":"205-222"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13298546/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148348208","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing public health threats: An overview of coordinated threat assessment at the Public Health Agency of Canada.","authors":"Gabrielle Brankston, Ekim Bagree, Rukshanda Ahmad, Camille Dulong, Catherine Elliott, Eleni Galanis, Jacqueline Middleton, Amrit Sandhu, Lindsay Whitmore","doi":"10.14745/ccdr.v52i05a02","DOIUrl":"10.14745/ccdr.v52i05a02","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The early detection, assessment, and communication of potential public health threats are key activities in mitigating public health impacts by ensuring the timely deployment of an appropriate response. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) uses a standardized methodology to consolidate scientific and technical subject matter expertise on a weekly basis to systematically characterize and assess emerging public health signals and communicate assessments to decision-makers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Public Health Agency of Canada's coordinated threat assessment process, and the standardized methodology used to characterize and assess threats, are described.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The coordinated threat assessment methodology uses a standardized method that includes engagement with subject matter experts across PHAC to assess, document, and communicate the characterization of each threat. Three key attributes are used to assess each threat based on the concern for human health, the potential to affect Canada, and the concern that Canada has insufficient control measures to manage a specific threat. Qualitative criteria for each threat attribute are used to assess a threat based on 'high', 'moderate', or 'low' levels. An overall assessment is based on the three threat attributes and is accompanied by a narrative rationale to support the assigned threat level.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The standardized threat assessment methodology provides a coordinated and systematic process to characterize and assess public health threats in a consistent and timely manner. The framework reflects important elements to consider in terms of public health significance, allows for flexibility in the indicators used to characterize a public health threat, and is applicable to any threat of public health concern.</p>","PeriodicalId":94304,"journal":{"name":"Canada communicable disease report = Releve des maladies transmissibles au Canada","volume":"52 5","pages":"177-183"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13460287/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148715061","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Using a consensus-based approach to build a threat assessment tool for use in a Canadian federal public health setting.","authors":"Gabrielle Brankston, Camille Dulong, Catherine Elliott, Jacqueline Middleton, Amrit Sandhu, Lindsay Whitmore","doi":"10.14745/ccdr.v52i05a01","DOIUrl":"10.14745/ccdr.v52i05a01","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Public health intelligence activities, including assessment of emerging public health threats, are core operations for many public health agencies. Threat assessment is intended to guide public health actions proportional to the assessed threat level within the context of an evolving situation. A risk-based threat assessment framework helps clarify the overall population-level health impacts of threats, guiding appropriate public health action.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This work aimed to develop a standardized, risk-based tool for assessing public health threats that could be used across the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), integrating diverse perspectives from various PHAC stakeholders to ensure the tool is applicable across the full entire spectrum of potential public health threats.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A threat assessment framework was developed to assign an overall threat level based on the assessment of three distinct threat attributes: the severity of harm to human health, the degree to which a threat is likely to impact Canada, and Canada's capacity to prevent or mitigate the threat. A Delphi-based approach was used to develop a set of qualitative criteria enabling end-users to assign a rating of high, moderate, or low for each threat attribute and the overall assessment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Three iterative surveys and two meetings led to consensus on definitions for the three threat attributes and the overall assessment, enabling a flexible framework capable of characterizing a wide range of public health threats.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Standardized, broadly accepted definitions for threat assessment reliably characterize and communicate public health events of importance and provide support for public health action.</p>","PeriodicalId":94304,"journal":{"name":"Canada communicable disease report = Releve des maladies transmissibles au Canada","volume":"52 5","pages":"171-176"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13459858/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148715086","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Device and surgical procedure-related infections in Canadian acute care hospitals, 2020-2024.","authors":"","doi":"10.14745/ccdr.v52i05a04","DOIUrl":"10.14745/ccdr.v52i05a04","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a significant healthcare burden in Canada. National surveillance of HAIs at sentinel acute care hospitals is conducted by the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To describe device and surgical procedure-related HAI epidemiology in Canada from 2020 to 2024.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data were collected from up to 67 Canadian sentinel acute care hospitals between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2024 for intensive care unit central line-associated bloodstream infections (ICU-CLABSIs), hip and knee surgical site infections (SSIs), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt SSIs and paediatric cardiac SSIs. Case counts, rates, patient and hospital characteristics, pathogen distributions and antimicrobial resistance data are presented.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Between 2020 and 2024, 1,846 device-related infections and 1,014 surgical procedure-related infections were reported. Rates of ICU-CLABSIs, hip and knee SSIs, CSF shunt SSIs and paediatric cardiac SSIs fluctuated throughout the study period, with no significant trends observed. The most commonly identified pathogens were coagulase-negative staphylococci (37%) in ICU-CLABSIs and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (41%) in SSIs.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Epidemiological and microbiological trends among selected device and surgical procedure-related HAIs are essential for benchmarking infection rates nationally and internationally, identifying any changes in infection rates or antimicrobial resistance patterns and helping inform hospital infection prevention and control and antimicrobial stewardship policies and programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":94304,"journal":{"name":"Canada communicable disease report = Releve des maladies transmissibles au Canada","volume":"52 5","pages":"194-204"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13327095/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148379096","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Canadian nurses' perspectives on challenges to antimicrobial stewardship in long-term care homes.","authors":"Alexander Varsaneux, Kathleen Qu, Jorida Cila, Gabrielle Brankston, Klajdi Puka, Tyler Good, Barbara Catt, Shaghig Reynolds, Aboubakar Mounchili, Denise Gravel-Tropper","doi":"10.14745/ccdr.v52i04a06","DOIUrl":"10.14745/ccdr.v52i04a06","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The World Health Organization recognizes antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a top global health threat. Antimicrobial resistance-related deaths in Canada are projected to exceed 13,500 annually by 2050. In long-term care homes (LTCH), 40% to 75% of antimicrobial prescriptions are inappropriate or unnecessary. Nurses are well-positioned to lead in antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) initiatives; however, it is unclear what challenges LTCH nurses face in participating in AMS activities. This study aims to provide insights into barriers and facilitators influencing nurses' engagement in AMS within Canadian LTCHs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A survey was developed using literature and an AMS working group assessing AMS knowledge (10 questions), confidence, barriers and facilitators. The survey targeted nurses working in Canadian LTCHs and was administered through Qualtrics online from January 20, 2023 to April 10, 2023 by distribution partners to obtain a convenience sample. Open-coding thematic analysis was used to describe quantitative data and analyze qualitative responses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 346 complete responses were recorded. The mean knowledge score was 71% (standard deviation [SD]=15%). Most respondents perceived infection prevention and control measures, and monitoring changes in the health of residents to be part of the duties of nurses within AMS. However, making recommendations about antimicrobials was the least cited nursing responsibility. This suggests a lack of clarity around the role of nurses in AMS. Barriers to AMS activities included pressure to treat and lack of meaningful interprofessional communication, while AMS education and senior management support were drivers for AMS engagement.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Education, senior-level support, and formal recognition of nurses in AMS programming represent key facilitators to effectively engage LTCH nurses in AMS best practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":94304,"journal":{"name":"Canada communicable disease report = Releve des maladies transmissibles au Canada","volume":"52 4","pages":"148-155"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13268222/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148267712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}