Surveillance

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…

In 2013, after 10 years of existence, the Comité d’éthique de santé publique [Public Health Ethics Committee] (CESP) felt compelled to review the experience that it had developed with regard to its specific mandate to provide ethical reviews of surveillance plans. This document summarizes all the ethical concerns identified by the Committee through the review of the different surveillance plans that were submitted to it between the time of its establishment and 2012. This summary of the…

From April 1^st, 2013, to March 31^st, 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…

From April 1^st, 2013, to March 31^st, 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…

From April 1^st, 2013, to March 31^st, 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…

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…

From April 1, 2013, to March 31, 2014, 95 healthcare facilities participated in the surveillance of Clostridium difficile–associated diarrhea (CDAD), for a combined total of 5,121,300 inpatient days. The participating facilities reported 3,661 cases of healthcare-associated (HA) CDAD. The incidence rate of HA CDAD was 7.1 cases per 10,000 patient days. This incidence rate was stable compared to the rate of 2012–2013. The 10-day…

From April 1, 2013, to March 31, 2014, 88 healthcare facilities participated in the surveillance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections, for a combined total of 4,939,160 inpatient days. Together, these facilities reported 97 cases of healthcare-associated MRSA. The incidence rate was 0.20 / 10,000 patient-days. This incidence rate has declined over the past five years. The proportion of…

From April 1, 2012, to March 31, 2013, 89 healthcare facilities took part in the surveillance of healthcare-associated vancomycin-resistant enterococci (HA-VRE) infections, for a combined total of 5,017,791 patient days. In total, 41 cases of VRE infection were reported among patients who contracted the strain during a current or previous hospital stay in the reporting facility (categories 1a + 1b). The incidence rate of HA-VRE infection (cat. 1a + 1b) was 0.08/10,000…

From April 1, 2012, to March 31, 2013, 88 healthcare facilities took part in the surveillance of methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections, for a combined total of 5,011,231 patient days. Together, these facilities reported 147 cases of healthcare-associated MRSA bloodstream infections. The incidence rate was 0.29/10,000 patient days. This incidence rate has declined over the past five years. The proportion of methicillin…