Surveillance Activities

The Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program

The Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program (CNISP) was founded in 1995. CNISP is a collaboration between 35 sentinel hospital sites (Canadian Hospital Epidemiology Committee) and the Public Health Agency of Canada involving epidemiologic support from the Nosocomial and Occupational Infections Section at the Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, and laboratory support from our unit at the National Microbiology Laboratory.
CNISP has been monitoring methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) since 1995, and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) since 1998.  A one year study to characterize extended-spectrum beta-lactamses (ESBLs) in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. in the year 2000 and a six month study to examine Clostridium difficile in 2004/2005.
Extensive laboratory and epidemiologic data are combined to determine rates of infection, improve infection control guidelines, and provide a comprehensive set of isolates for research into virulence, antimicrobial resistance, and improved diagnostics.

The Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance

In 2002, the Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS) was initiated to monitor trends in antimicrobial use and the development of resistance in selected bacterial organisms from human, animal and food sources across Canada. The program is based on several representative and methodologically unified surveillance components. CIPARS data are intended to enable assessment of the impact of antimicrobial use in the agri-food sector and associated antimicrobial resistance on human health. These data are crucial for developing and evaluating intervention strategies designed to reduce the emergence and contain the spread of antimicrobial resistance. The ARNI Laboratory provides laboratory support for this program.

For more information and annual CIPARS reports click here .

Other Surveillance Projects

We are currently involved in other surveillance initiatives listed below. We are always available to discuss potential surveillance issues and our involvement will be determined on a case-by-case basis depending on funding and the importance to public health and nosocomial infections issues. 

CIHR Funded Surveillance Projects
Northern Antimicrobial Resistance Partnership (NARP)

Dr. M. Mulvey (PI)   This five year study has three major themes; 1). A general surveillance study aimed at examining antimicrobial resistance and usage in three sentinel sites in northern Saskatchewan; 2). A case-control study focused on risk factors for community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) infections; and 3). An educational component aimed at developing tools to educate the general public and health care professionals involving antimicrobial usage and resistance issues.
For more information about NARP visit  www.NARP.ca

Dr. Marie Louie (PI) – This is a prospective multi-province surveillance project to study antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli in drinking and recreational source waters.  A graduate student is working at the NML to examine the molecular aspects of drug-resistant E. coli.

Drs. A. McGeer / L. Valiquette (PIs) - Clinical, pharmacological and microbiological predictors of severe Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea.

Other Surveillance Programs

We are currently working with Drs. Zhanel and Hoban from the University of Manitoba involving a number of surveillance initiatives involving antimicrobial resistant organisms.

CAN-ICU
This surveillance program focuses on organisms causing infection in the intensive care units from hospitals across Canada. We are providing assistance to understand the molecular epidemiology of MRSA, VRE and Acinetobacter isolates collected through this project. 

North American Urinary Tract Infections Collaborative Alliance (NAUTICA)
This study focuses on urinary tract infections in outpatients caused by E. coli.  The cases are collected from over 40 medical centres across USA and Canada.  We are currently collaborating with this surveillance initiative to provide information regarding extended-spectrum beta-lactamases identified through this study.