Complete guide to Canadian hospital infection prevention and control — IPC programme, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), HAI surveillance, hand hygiene, antimicrobial stewardship, PHAC guidance, and IPC software.
HAIs affect 200,000+ Canadians per year. AMR is a growing threat. PHAC sets national IPC guidelines. This guide covers Canadian infection control.
IPC Programme Components
| Component | Description | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| IPC committee | Multi-disciplinary IPC committee | Accreditation Canada ROP |
| IPC professional | Dedicated IPC practitioner | Required |
| HAI surveillance | Track CLABSI, CAUTI, SSI, C. diff, MRSA, VRE | PHAC + CIHI |
| Hand hygiene | Hand hygiene compliance monitoring | ROP (> 80%) |
| AMS | Antimicrobial stewardship programme | ROP |
| Outbreak management | Outbreak detection and response | PHAC guidelines |
| Education | IPC education for all staff | Annual |
| Reporting | Report HAI data to PHAC and CIHI | Quarterly |
HAI Surveillance
| HAI | Rate (per 10,000 PD) | Target | Prevention |
|---|---|---|---|
| C. difficile | 5-10 | < 5 | Antibiotic stewardship, isolation, cleaning |
| MRSA bacteraemia | 2-5 | < 2 | Screening, isolation, hand hygiene |
| VRE | 1-3 | < 1 | Screening, isolation, hand hygiene |
| CLABSI | 1-2/1000 CL days | < 1/1000 | Bundle: chlorhexidine, full barrier, checklist |
| CAUTI | 1-3/1000 catheter days | < 1/1000 | Bundle: indication, aseptic insertion, removal |
| SSI | 2-5% | < 2% | Bundle: antibiotics, chlorhexidine, normothermia |
Antimicrobial Stewardship
- AMS programme: Establish AMS programme with pharmacist and infectious diseases physician
- Antibiotic restriction: Restrict broad-spectrum antibiotics (require approval)
- Pre-authorisation: Pre-authorisation for restricted antibiotics
- Prospective audit: Daily audit and feedback on antibiotic prescribing
- Guidelines: Evidence-based antibiotic guidelines
- Education: Regular education on appropriate antibiotic use
- Monitoring: Monitor antibiotic use and resistance patterns
- Reporting: Report AMS metrics to PHAC and hospital leadership
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the HAI burden in Canadian hospitals?
- Canadian HAI rates: 1) HAIs affect 200,000+ patients per year, 2. C. difficile — 5-10 per 10,000 patient days, 3. MRSA — 2-5 per 10,000 patient days, 4. VRE — 1-3 per 10,000 patient days, 5. CLABSI — 1-2 per 1,000 central line days, 6. SSI — 2-5% of surgical procedures. HAIs increase LOS by 4-8 days and cost $4,000-$10,000 per case.
- What is Canada's AMR strategy?
- Canada's AMR (Antimicrobial Resistance) strategy: 1) Federal AMR Action Plan, 2. PHAC (Public Health Agency of Canada) surveillance, 3. Antimicrobial stewardship programmes in hospitals, 4. Infection prevention and control, 5. AMR research (CIHR), 6. One Health approach (human, animal, environmental). AMR is a growing threat — resistant organisms are increasing. Target: reduce inappropriate antibiotic use by 30%.
- What are PHAC infection control guidelines?
- PHAC (Public Health Agency of Canada) publishes infection control guidelines: 1) Routine practices and additional precautions, 2. Hand hygiene in healthcare settings, 3. AMR surveillance, 4. C. difficile prevention, 5. SSI prevention, 6. Outbreak management. PHAC also provides national HAI surveillance data. All Canadian hospitals should follow PHAC guidelines.