The changing epidemiology of infection and the NAP1/027 strain in two Québec hospitals: a 17-year time-series study.

Objective: To describe the epidemiology of healthcare-associated infection (HA-CDI) in two Québec hospitals in Canada following the 2003 epidemic and to evaluate the impact of antibiotic stewardship on the incidence of HA-CDI and the NAP1/027 strain.

Design: Time-series analysis.

Setting: Two Canadian tertiary care hospitals based in Montréal, Québec.

Comparison of rectal swabs and fecal samples for the detection of infections with a new in-house PCR assay.

Unlabelled: The detection of infections (CDI) relies on testing the stool of patients by toxin antigen detection or PCR methods. Although PCR and antigenic methods have significantly reduced the time to results, delays in stool collection can significantly add to the turnaround time. The use of rectal swabs to detect could considerably reduce the time to diagnosis of CDI.

Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir use among adults hospitalized with COVID-19 during the Omicron phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program.

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir in reducing the risk of progression to severe disease among outpatients with mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, data are limited regarding the use and role of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir among hospitalized patients. This study describes the use and outcomes of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir among adults hospitalized with COVID-19 in a sentinel network of Canadian acute care hospitals during the Omicron variant phase of the pandemic.

Methods: The Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program conducts surveillance of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in acute care hospitals across Canada.

A outbreak associated with the use of ultrasound gel in multiple healthcare centres in Montréal, Canada, May-October 2021.

Background: is a non-fermenting, gram-negative bacteria that has previously been implicated in multiple nosocomial outbreaks through the use of contaminated medical devices and substances. This article reports on an outbreak of infections and colonizations, involving 11 patients from five acute care hospitals in Montréal, Canada.

Methods: One sample was not available for testing, but the remaining 10 isolates (91%) were sent for phylogenetic testing.

Postpandemic Evaluation of the Eco-Efficiency of Personal Protective Equipment Against COVID-19 in Emergency Departments: Proposal for a Mixed Methods Study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on emergency department (ED) care in Canada and around the world. To prevent transmission of COVID-19, personal protective equipment (PPE) was required for all ED care providers in contact with suspected cases. With mass vaccination and improvements in several infection prevention components, our hypothesis is that the risks of transmission of COVID-19 will be significantly reduced and that current PPE use will have economic and ecological consequences that exceed its anticipated benefits.