Antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial use associated with laboratory-confirmed cases of Campylobacter infection in two health units in Ontario.

Aim: A population-based study was conducted over a two-year period in the Perth District (PD) and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (WDG) health units in Ontario to document antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial use associated with clinical cases of laboratory-confirmed campylobacteriosis.

Methods: Etest (bioMérieux SA, France) was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin (CIP), clindamycin, erythromycin (ERY), gentamicin, nalidixic acid and tetracycline. Data regarding antimicrobial use were collected from 250 cases.

Molecular epidemiology of Campylobacter jejuni human and chicken isolates from two health units.

A study was conducted over a 2-year period in the Perth District and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph health units in Ontario, with an objective of using comparative genomic fingerprinting (CGF) with a 40-gene assay (CGF40) to investigate the association between human cases of campylobacteriosis and spatially and temporally related Campylobacter isolates from retail chicken. CGF results were available for isolates from 115 human cases and 718 retail chicken samples. These data were combined with CGF results from a large reference database of Campylobacter isolates.

Canada in the face of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.

Background: Initial public health responses to the 2009 influenza H1N1 pandemic were based on difficult decisions in the face of substantial uncertainty. Policy effectiveness depends critically on such decisions, and future planning for maximum protection of community health requires understanding of the impact of public health responses in observed scenarios.

Objectives: In alignment with the objectives of the Pandemic Influenza Outbreak Research Modelling Team (Pan-InfORM) and the Centre for Disease Modelling (CDM), a focused workshop was organized to: (i) evaluate Canada's response to the spring and autumn waves of the novel H1N1 pandemic; (ii) learn lessons from public health responses, and identify challenges that await public health planners and decision-makers; and (iii) understand how best to integrate resources to overcome these challenges.

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter spp. isolated from retail chicken in two health units in Ontario.

Campylobacter is an important enteric pathogen of humans and can cause diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain. Campylobacter infections have frequently been associated with the handling and consumption of raw and undercooked poultry. Antimicrobial resistance among Campylobacter strains is of concern in the treatment of campylobacteriosis in vulnerable populations.

Canadian Association for Immunization Research and Evaluation (CAIRE) guidelines for industry-sponsored clinical trial and epidemiology contract research.

In response to concerns about interactions of academic and public health investigators with industry, the Canadian Association for Immunization Research and Evaluation (CAIRE), in collaboration with six major vaccine manufacturers, developed guidelines for participation in industry-sponsored clinical trial and epidemiology contract research within Canada. Topics addressed include definition of investigators, data ownership, protocol development, data management, data analysis, producing a study report and publication of the results of the study.

Annual universal influenza vaccination: ready or not?

Influenza causes annual worldwide epidemics of respiratory disease. Currently, the United States and many other countries recommend influenza vaccination for persons who are at high risk for influenza-related complications. This commentary explores the potential benefits of a policy advocating universal annual influenza vaccination and outlines obstacles that need to be overcome to make such a recommendation feasible.

The Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan: an evolution to the approach for national communicable disease emergencies.

Advance planning for a large-scale and widespread health emergency is required to optimize health care delivery during an influenza pandemic. The Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan (CPIP) is an example of a successful communicable disease emergency plan that ensures a national, coordinated approach to preparedness, response and recovery activities in the event of an influenza pandemic. The general concepts incorporated into the CPIP may be utilised in the contingency planning for a bioterrorism event or other communicable disease emergencies, including: a national, coordinated approach in planning; an emergency management structure to conduct the response; the use of common terminology to facilitate communication and response coordination, and the establishment of specific technical, communications and operational response groups and networks in advance.

Influenza pandemic planning.

Periodically, novel influenza viruses emerge and spread rapidly through susceptible populations, resulting in worldwide epidemics or pandemics. Three pandemics occurred in the 20th century. The first and most devastating of these, the "Spanish Flu" (A/H1N1) pandemic of 1918-1919, is estimated to have resulted in 20-50 million or more deaths worldwide, with unusually high mortality among young adults [C.

Use of oseltamivir during influenza outbreaks in Ontario nursing homes, 1999-2000.

Objectives: To describe the experience of Ontario long-term care facilities that used oseltamivir during influenza outbreaks in 1999/2000.

Design: Case series.

Setting: Ten Ontario long-term care facilities for older people and their residents.

A Prevalence Survey of Salmonella in Raw Milk in Ontario, 1986-87.

In a survey to determine the incidence and prevalence of Salmonella in the bulk milk supply of dairy farms in southwestern Ontario 1986-87, milk filters from 813 farms were cultured over four sampling periods in six months. Prevalence rates during the four sampling periods were as follows: September 1986: 1.23%; October-November: 0.