Surveillance

Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE) Infections - Surveillance results: 2015-2016

Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE) Infections
Surveillance results: 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 10,000 patient days. This incidence rate was stable since 2014-2015. The acquisition rate of healthcare-associated VRE colonization (cat. 1a and 1b) in 2015-2016 was 9.76 per 10,000 patient days. For all results, only facilities that participated in at least 11 periods are inclu…

Surveillance provinciale des infections nosocomiales

Hospital-Wide Healthcare-associated Bloodstream Infections: surveillance 2015-2016

Hospital-Wide Healthcare-associated Bloodstream Infections
Surveillance results: 2015-2016

From April 1st, 2015, to March 31st, 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 that participated in 2015-2016 as well as in at least one year between 2011-2012 and 2014-2015. No non-catheter-related primary bloodstream infection (non-CRBSI) with a mucosal barrier injury (MBI) is observed in 2015-2016. The 2015-2016 incidence rate…

Surveillance provinciale des infections nosocomiales

Clostridium difficile–Associated Diarrhea: surveillance 2015-2016

Clostridium difficile–Associated Diarrhea
Surveillance results: 2015-2016

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 the 2014–2015 rate. The 10-day fatality rate was 8.0% (n = 219) while the 30-day fatality rate was 14.0% (n = 381). In total, 23 (0.8%) colectomies were reported. This year, two teaching facilities merged. For all results, only facilities that participated in at…

Surveillance provinciale des infections nosocomiales

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Bloodstream Infections: Surveillance, 2015-2016

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Bloodstream Infections
Surveillance results: 2015-2016

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 declined over the past five years. The proportion of methicillin resistance in healthcare-associated S. aureus bloodstream infections was 12.6%. Data was extracted on May 31st, 2016. For all results, only facilities that participa…

Surveillance provinciale des infections nosocomiales

Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infections in Intensive Care Units: Surveillance 2015-2016

Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infections in Intensive Care Units
Surveillance results: 2015-2016

From April 1st, 2015, to March 31st, 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 (including cases with a mucosal barrier injury). No case is observed in coronary ICUs. Compared to 2014-2015, a coronary ICU and a teaching ICU stopped participating, while a neonatal ICU joined surveillance; one teaching and one non-teaching ICU that pa…

Surveillance provinciale des infections nosocomiales

Surveillance of Lyme disease and other diseases transmitted by the Ixodes scapularis tick: 2014

In 2014, 127 cases of Lyme disease were reported to public health authorities, including 66 cases that were acquired in Québec.

During that same year, the Laboratoire de santé publique du Québec received 2,549 Ixodes scapularis ticks from Québec, primarily from the Montérégie, Montréal, Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec, Lanaudière, Laurentides and Estrie regions.

Lastly, active surveillance in 2014 identified three new endemic sites for Lyme disease, all in Montérégie.

Preventing Intentional OTC Drug Overdoses

  • Each year in Québec, approximately 174 people commit suicide by drug overdose, of which at least 15 are the result of over-the-counter (OTC) drug overdoses.
  • A substantial number of suicides and suicide attempts by overdose involve more than one substance.
  • The number of suicides by OTC medication is under-estimated, since in cases where several drugs have been ingested, only the substance that is presumed to have caused the death is considered when determining the most likely cause of death.
  • Acetaminophen is by far the most common drug involved in intentional OTC drug overdoses, followed by salicylates, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, and antihistamines. Depending on the ingested drug and dose, these medications can have serious adverse health effects.
  • Unlike in a number of European countries, Canada (including Québec) has no restrictions on the maximum quantity per OTC pack sold in pharmacies, particularly for acetaminophen, ibuprofe…

Vascular Access–Related Bloodstream Infections in Hemodialysis Patients in Québec : surveillance results 2014–2015

Vascular Access–Related Bloodstream Infections in Hemodialysis Patients in Québec
Surveillance results: 2014-2015

From April 1st, 2014, to March 31st, 2015, 45 hemodialysis units took part in the surveillance of vascular access–related bloodstream infections (VARBSIs) in hemodialysis (HD) patients, for a combined total of 55,640 patient-periods (Table 1). Participating units reported 156 VARBSIs in 142 patients. The proportion of patient-periods involving a fistula accounted for 43.4%. The VARBSI incidence rate was 0.09 cases per 100 patient-periods for patients with an arteriovenous (AV) fistula, 0.20 for patients with a synthetic fistula (graft), 0.37 for patients with a permanent catheter and 6.73 for patients with a temporary catheter. In 2014–2015, incidence rates per…

Surveillance provinciale des infections nosocomiales

Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infections in Intensive Care Units in Québec surveillance results : 2014–2015

Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infections in Intensive Care Units in Québec
Surveillance results: 2014-2015

From April 1st, 2014, to March 31st, 2015, 67 intensive care units (ICUs) took part in surveillance of central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), for a combined total of 130,776 catheter-days (Table 1). Participating ICUs reported 115 CLABSIs in 112 patients. Incidence rates were 0.34 per 1,000 catheter-days in coronary ICUs, 0.52 in teaching adult ICUs, 0.76 in non-teaching adult ICUs, 2.06 in pediatric ICUs and 2.20 in neonatal ICUs. The incidence rates in 2014–2015 were lower compared to 2010–2014 in teaching adult as well as in neonatal ICUs while non-teaching adult, pediatric and coronary ICUs pooled mean rates remained stable. Compared to 2013-2014, two adult non-teaching…

Surveillance provinciale des infections nosocomiales

Hospital-Wide Healthcare-associated Bloodstream Infections : surveillance results 2014–2015

Hospital-Wide Healthcare-associated Bloodstream Infections
Surveillance results: 2014-2015

From April 1st, 2014, to March 31st, 2015, 88 healthcare facilities took part in the hospital-wide surveillance of bloodstream infections (BSIs), for a combined total of 4,733,772 patient-days (Table 1). Participating facilities reported 3,035 BSIs in 2,832 patients. The total incidence rate was 5.3 cases per 10,000 patient-days. The incidence rate in 2014–2015 was significantly lower compared to the average rate for 2010–2014 in facilities that took part in both surveillance periods. Two teaching and 10 non-teaching facilities joined the program in 2014–2015 and one stopped participating; in addition, four facilities are not counted anymore in the 2013-2014 surveillance results, having provided data for less th…

Surveillance provinciale des infections nosocomiales