Trends in Severe Outcomes Among Adult and Pediatric Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19 in the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program, March 2020 to May 2022.

Importance: Trends in COVID-19 severe outcomes have significant implications for the health care system and are key to informing public health measures. However, data summarizing trends in severe outcomes among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Canada are not well described. Objective: To describe trends in severe outcomes among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Design, Setting, and Participants: Active prospective surveillance in this cohort study was conducted from March 15, 2020, to May 28, 2022, at a sentinel network of 155 acute care hospitals across Canada. Participants included adult (aged ≥18 years) and pediatric (aged 0-17 years) patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 at a Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program (CNISP)-participating hospital. Exposures: COVID-19 waves, COVID-19 vaccination status, and age group. Main Outcomes and Measures: The CNISP collected weekly aggregate data on the following severe outcomes: hospitalization, admission to an intensive care unit (ICU), receipt of mechanical ventilation, receipt of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and all-cause in-hospital death. Results: Among 1 513 065 admissions, the proportion of adult (n = 51 679) and pediatric (n = 4035) patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 was highest in waves 5 and 6 of the pandemic compared with waves 1 to 4 (77.3 vs 24.7 per 1000 patient admissions). Despite this, the proportion of patients with positive test results for COVID-19 who were admitted to an ICU, received mechanical ventilation, received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and died were each significantly lower in waves 5 and 6 when compared with waves 1 through 4. Admission to the ICU and in-hospital all-cause death rates were significantly higher among those who were unvaccinated against COVID-19 when compared with those who were fully vaccinated (incidence rate ratio, 4.3 and 3.9, respectively) or fully vaccinated with an additional dose (incidence rate ratio, 12.2 and 15.1, respectively). Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this cohort study of patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 suggest that COVID-19 vaccination is important to reduce the burden on the Canadian health care system as well as severe outcomes associated with COVID-19.

Trends in Clostridioides difficile infection rates in Canadian hospitals during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has placed significant burden on healthcare systems. We compared Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) epidemiology before and during the pandemic across 71 hospitals participating in the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program. Using an interrupted time series analysis, we showed that CDI rates significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Characterization of Healthcare-Associated and Community-Associated Clostridioides difficile Infections among Adults, Canada, 2015-2019.

We investigated epidemiologic and molecular characteristics of healthcare-associated (HA) and community-associated (CA) Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) among adult patients in Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program hospitals during 2015-2019. The study encompassed 18,455 CDI cases, 13,735 (74.4%) HA and 4,720 (25.6%) CA. During 2015-2019, HA CDI rates decreased by 23.8%, whereas CA decreased by 18.8%. HA CDI was significantly associated with increased 30-day all-cause mortality as compared with CA CDI (p<0.01). Of 2,506 isolates analyzed, the most common ribotypes (RTs) were RT027, RT106, RT014, and RT020. RT027 was more often associated with CDI-attributable death than was non-RT027, regardless of acquisition type. Overall resistance C. difficile rates were similar for all drugs tested except moxifloxacin. Adult HA and CA CDI rates have declined, coinciding with changes in prevalence of RT027 and RT106. Infection prevention and control and continued national surveillance are integral to clarifying CDI epidemiology, investigation, and control.

Investigating the relationship between vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus control practices and the incidence of health care-associated Clostridioides difficile infections in Ontario.

We evaluated the impact of discontinuing vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) screening and use of contact precautions on the incidence of health care-associated Clostridioides difficile infection (HA-CDI) in acute teaching hospitals in Ontario, Canada. Among hospitals that stopped VRE screening and contact precaution measures, there was a significant change in HA-CDI rates after the discontinuation of practices (incidence rate ratios, 1.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.22). No change in rate was observed among hospitals that continued VRE control practices. Screening and use of contact precautions for VRE may provide hospitals additional advantages for broadened HA-CDI control and prevention.

Predictors of Treatment Failure for Hip and Knee Prosthetic Joint Infections in the Setting of 1- and 2-Stage Exchange Arthroplasty: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Prosthetic hip and knee joint infections (PJIs) are challenging to eradicate despite prosthesis removal and antibiotic therapy. There is a need to understand risk factors for PJI treatment failure in the setting of prosthesis removal. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of individuals who underwent prosthesis removal for a PJI at 5 hospitals in Toronto, Canada, from 2010 to 2014 was created. Treatment failure was defined as recurrent PJI, amputation, death, or chronic antibiotic suppression. Potential risk factors for treatment failure were abstracted by chart review and assessed using a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: A total of 533 individuals with prosthesis removal were followed for a median (interquartile range) of 814 (235-1530) days. A 1-stage exchange was performed in 19% (103/533), whereas a 2-stage procedure was completed in 88% (377/430). Treatment failure occurred in 24.8% (132/533) at 2 years; 53% (56/105) of recurrent PJIs were caused by a different bacterial species. At 4 years, treatment failure occurred in 36% of 1-stage and 32% of 2-stage procedures (P = .06). Characteristics associated with treatment failure included liver disease (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 3.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.09-4.66), the presence of a sinus tract (aHR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.12-2.10), preceding debridement with prosthesis retention (aHR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.13-2.51), a 1-stage procedure (aHR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.28-2.32), and infection due to Gram-negative bacilli (aHR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.04-1.76). CONCLUSIONS: Failure of PJI therapy is common, and risk factors are not easily modified. Improvements in treatment paradigms are needed, along with efforts to reduce orthopedic surgical site infections.

The evolving epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection in Canadian hospitals during a postepidemic period (2009-2015).

BACKGROUND: The clinical and molecular epidemiology of health care-associated Clostridium difficile infection in nonepidemic settings across Canada has evolved since the first report of the virulent North American pulsed-field gel electrophoresis type 1 (NAP1) strain more than 15 years ago. The objective of this national, multicentre study was to describe the evolving epidemiology and molecular characteristics of health care-associated C. difficile infection in Canada during a post-NAP1-epidemic period, particularly patient outcomes associated with the NAP1 strain. METHODS: Adult inpatients with C. difficile infection were prospectively identified, using a standard definition, between 2009 and 2015 through the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program (CNISP), a network of 64 acute care hospitals. Patient demographic characteristics, severity of infection and outcomes were reviewed. Molecular testing was performed on isolates, and strain types were analyzed against outcomes and epidemiologic trends. RESULTS: Over a 7-year period, 20 623 adult patients admitted to hospital with health care-associated C. difficile infection were reported to CNISP, and microbiological data were available for 2690 patients. From 2009 to 2015, the national rate of health care-associated C. difficile infection decreased from 5.9 to 4.3 per 10 000 patient-days. NAP1 remained the dominant strain type, but infection with this strain has significantly decreased over time, followed by an increasing trend of infection with NAP4 and NAP11 strains. The NAP1 strain was significantly associated with a higher rate of death attributable to C. difficile infection compared with non-NAP1 strains (odds ratio 1.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.29-2.82). Isolates were universally susceptible to metronidazole; one was nonsusceptible to vancomycin. The proportion of NAP1 strains within individual centres predicted their rates of health care-associated C. difficile infection; for every 10% increase in the proportion of NAP1 strains, the rate of health care-associated C. difficile infection increased by 3.3% (95% CI 1.7%-4.9%). INTERPRETATION: Rates of health care-associated C. difficile infection have decreased across Canada. In nonepidemic settings, NAP4 has emerged as a common strain type, but NAP1, although decreasing, continues to be the predominant circulating strain and remains significantly associated with higher attributable mortality.

Risk factors for influenza among health care workers during 2009 pandemic, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

This prospective cohort study, performed during the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic, was aimed to determine whether adults working in acute care hospitals were at higher risk than other working adults for influenza and to assess risk factors for influenza among health care workers (HCWs). We assessed the risk for influenza among 563 HCWs and 169 non-HCWs using PCR to test nasal swab samples collected during acute respiratory illness; results for 13 (2.2%) HCWs and 7 (4.1%) non-HCWs were positive for influenza. Influenza infection was associated with contact with family members who had acute respiratory illnesses (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 6.9, 95% CI 2.2-21.8); performing aerosol-generating medical procedures (AOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1-3.5); and low self-reported adherence to hand hygiene recommendations (AOR 0.9, 95% CI 0.7-1.0). Contact with persons with acute respiratory illness, rather than workplace, was associated with influenza infection. Adherence to infection control recommendations may prevent influenza among HCWs.

Too close for comfort: screening strategy to detect methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus conversion in exposed roommates.

All 899 roommates exposed to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) index cases were studied over 57 months. MRSA detection is better at approximately 3 days (50%-55%) or 7 days (56%) after contact has been broken than day 0 (30%). Polymerase chain reaction testing at day 3 performs similarly to culture at day 7. Nasal/rectal screening provides superior detection than nasal alone. Those exposed >48 hours are at significantly greater risk of colonization.

When should a diagnosis of influenza be considered in adults requiring intensive care unit admission? Results of population-based active surveillance in Toronto.

INTRODUCTION: There is a paucity of data about the clinical characteristics that help identify patients at high risk of influenza infection upon ICU admission. We aimed to identify predictors of influenza infection in patients admitted to ICUs during the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 influenza seasons and the second wave of the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic as well as to identify populations with increased likelihood of seasonal and pandemic 2009 influenza (pH1N1) infection. METHODS: Six Toronto acute care hospitals participated in active surveillance for laboratory-confirmed influenza requiring ICU admission during periods of influenza activity from 2007 to 2009. Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained from patients who presented to our hospitals with acute respiratory or cardiac illness or febrile illness without a clear nonrespiratory aetiology. Predictors of influenza were assessed by multivariable logistic regression analysis and the likelihood of influenza in different populations was calculated. RESULTS: In 5,482 patients, 126 (2.3%) were found to have influenza. Admission temperature ≥38°C (odds ratio (OR) 4.7 for pH1N1, 2.3 for seasonal influenza) and admission diagnosis of pneumonia or respiratory infection (OR 7.3 for pH1N1, 4.2 for seasonal influenza) were independent predictors for influenza. During the peak weeks of influenza seasons, 17% of afebrile patients and 27% of febrile patients with pneumonia or respiratory infection had influenza. During the second wave of the 2009 pandemic, 26% of afebrile patients and 70% of febrile patients with pneumonia or respiratory infection had influenza. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of our study may assist clinicians in decision making regarding optimal management of adult patients admitted to ICUs during future influenza seasons. Influenza testing, empiric antiviral therapy and empiric infection control precautions should be considered in those patients who are admitted during influenza season with a diagnosis of pneumonia or respiratory infection and are either febrile or admitted during weeks of peak influenza activity.

Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: prevalence in skin and soft tissue infections at emergency departments in the Greater Toronto Area and associated risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA), which is caused primarily by the Canadian methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-10 (CMRSA-10) strain (also known as the USA300 strain) has emerged rapidly in the United States and is now emerging in Canada. We assessed the prevalence, risk factors, microbiological characteristics and outcomes of CA-MRSA in patients with purulent skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) presenting to emergency departments (EDs) in the Greater Toronto Area. METHODS: Patients with Staphylococcus aureus SSTIs who presented to 7 EDs between Mar. 1 and Jun. 30, 2007, were eligible for inclusion in this study. Antimicrobial susceptibilities and molecular characteristics of MRSA strains were identified. Demographic, risk factor and clinical data were collected through telephone interviews. RESULTS: MRSA was isolated from 58 (19%) of 299 eligible patients. CMRSA-10 was identified at 6 of the 7 study sites and accounted for 29 (50%) of all cases of MRSA. Telephone interviews were completed for 161 of the eligible patients. Individuals with CMRSA-10 were younger (median 34 v. 63 yr, p = 0.002), less likely to report recent antibiotic use (22% v. 67%, p = 0.046) or health care-related risk factors (33% v. 72%, p = 0.097) and more likely to report community-related risk factors (56% v. 6%, p = 0.008) than patients with other MRSA strains. CMRSA-10 SSTIs were treated with incision and drainage (1 patient), antibiotic therapy (3 patients) or both (5 patients), and all resolved. CMRSA-10 isolates were susceptible to clindamycin, tetracycline and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. CONCLUSION: CA-MRSA is a significant cause of SSTIs in the Greater Toronto Area, and can affect patients without known community-related risk factors. The changing epidemiology of CA-MRSA necessitates further surveillance to inform prevention strategies and empiric treatment guidelines.

Sensitivities of nasal and rectal swabs for detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization in an active surveillance program.

All medical and high-risk surgical patients were screened for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization over 3.5 years. The sensitivities of nasal and rectal swabs were 68% and 62%, respectively. Naris and open-skin-site swabs detected 467 (74%) of 627 adult carriers identified. Rectal swabs detected an additional 160 (26%) carriers.

Comparison of two versions of the IDI-MRSA assay using charcoal swabs for prospective nasal and nonnasal surveillance samples.

An updated IDI-MRSA assay version was released to address the assay's low positive predictive value (PPV). A prospective analysis of two assay versions indicated no significant improvement in the PPV. Colonization by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in 24% of patients would not have been detected if only nasal samples had been tested, as approved, by this molecular method.

Verification of the IDI-MRSA assay for detecting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in diverse specimen types in a core clinical laboratory setting.

The IDI-MRSA assay has a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 96% when used to screen patients at extranasal sites. This verification study used previously unverified swabs and was undertaken in a core medical laboratory using nonmicrobiology technologists trained in sample processing, molecular laboratory work flow, and PCR practice.

Optimal surveillance culture sites for detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in newborns.

We describe two outbreaks among newborns, one caused by community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the other by hospital-associated MRSA. The umbilicus, rectum, and nares were tested for colonization. We found that no single body site had optimal sensitivity when tested alone. The combination of umbilical and nasal swabs achieved a sensitivity of >90%.

Emergence of macrolide resistance in throat culture isolates of group a streptococci in Ontario, Canada, in 2001.

Of 500 group A streptococci isolated from pharyngeal swabs, 72 (14.4%) were macrolide resistant, compared to 2.1% in 1997. Of these, 66 (92%) were of the M phenotype and 6 (8.3%) were of the MLS phenotype. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis found that two clones, with patterns identical to those of serotypes M1 and M4, accounted for 19.4 and 68.1% of the macrolide-resistant isolates, respectively.