A5073812612- Respiratory viral infections research
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Biosensors and Analytical Detection
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Viral Infections and Immunology Research
- Virology and Viral Diseases
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments
- Frailty in Older Adults
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Legionella and Acanthamoeba research
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Bacterial Infections and Vaccines
- Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life
- Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research
- Virus-based gene therapy research
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Immunodeficiency and Autoimmune Disorders
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Research
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
Nova Scotia Health Authority
2016-2025
Dalhousie University
2016-2025
Izaak Walton Killam Health Centre
2015-2024
Nova Scotia Hospital
2024
University of Manitoba
2023
Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre
2008-2022
Public Health Laboratory
2022
Crowell & Moring (United States)
2022
Public Health Agency of Canada
2022
Sanofi (Canada)
2017
Influenza is an important cause of morbidity and mortality among older adults. Even so, effectiveness influenza vaccine for adults has been reported to be lower than younger adults, the impact frailty on (VE) outcomes uncertain. We aimed study VE against hospitalization in focusing frailty.We report trivalent (TIV) people ≥65 years age hospitalized during 2011-2012 season using a multicenter, prospective, test-negative case-control design. A validated index (FI) was used measure...
With emergence of pandemic COVID-19, rapid and accurate diagnostic testing is essential. This study compared laboratory-developed tests (LDTs) used for the detection SARS-CoV-2 in Canadian hospital public health laboratories, some commercially available real-time RT-PCR assays. Overall, analytical sensitivities were equivalent between LDTs most methods.
Given the global shortage of nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs typically used for respiratory virus detection, alternative collection methods were evaluated during COVID-19 pandemic. This study showed that a combined oropharyngeal/nares swab is suitable to NP detection SARS-CoV-2, with sensitivities 91.7% and 94.4%, respectively.
Two prefusion F protein-based vaccines, Arexvy and Abrysvo, have been approved by Health Canada for protecting older adults against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-associated lower tract disease. We estimated the health benefits cost-effectiveness of these vaccines under a publicly funded single-dose vaccination program in Ontario that targets residents long-term care homes (LTCHs). Additionally, we evaluated an extended broadens to include community-dwelling adults. A discrete-event...
ABSTRACT Standardization of the hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) assay for influenza serology is challenging. Poor reproducibility HAI results from one laboratory to another widely cited, limiting comparisons between candidate vaccines in different clinical trials and posing challenges licensing authorities. In this study, we standardized materials, methods, interpretive criteria across five geographically dispersed laboratories a multidisciplinary research network then evaluated...
Background/objectives Influenza is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, particularly for older adults. Persistent functional decline following hospitalization has important impacts on adults' wellbeing independence, but been under‐studied in relation to influenza. We aimed investigate persistent change adults admitted hospital influenza other acute respiratory illness (ARI). Design Protective observational cohort study. Setting Canadian Immunization Research Network Serious...
The COVID-19 pandemic has been hallmarked by several waves of variants concern (VoCs), each with novel challenges. Currently, the highly transmissible Omicron VoC is predominant worldwide, and sore throat common, among other cold-like symptoms. Anecdotes on social media have suggested that sampling one's can increase sensitivity for detection antigen-based rapid testing devices (Ag-RDTs). This work aimed to improve local strategy determine whether Ag-RDTs designed nasal altered use...
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We examined frailty as a predictor of recovery in older adults hospitalized with influenza and acute respiratory illness.A total 5011 patients aged ≥65 years were admitted to Canadian Serious Outcomes Surveillance Network hospitals during the 2011/2012, 2012/2013, 2013/2014 seasons. Frailty was measured using previously validated index (FI). Poor defined death by 30 days postdischarge or an increase more than 0.06 (≥2 persistent new health deficits) on FI. Multivariable logistic regression...
Antigen-based rapid diagnostics tests (Ag-RDTs) are useful tools for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) detection. However, misleading demonstrations of the Abbott Panbio disease 2019 (COVID-19) Ag-RDT on social media claimed that SARS-CoV-2 antigen could be detected in municipal water and food products. To offer a scientific rebuttal to pandemic misinformation disinformation, this study explored impact using assay with conditions falling outside manufacturer...
With increasing demands for SARS-CoV-2 testing, as well the shortages testing supplies, collection devices, and trained healthcare workers (HCWs) to collect specimens, self-collection is an attractive prospect reduce need HCWs expenditure of personal protective equipment. Apart from traditional nasopharyngeal swab used detection, alternative specimens have been validated such a combined swabs oropharynx anterior nares (OP/N), or throat samples using saline gargles. Both specimen types are...
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in older adults is undercharacterized. To help inform future immunization policies, this study aimed to describe the burden Canadian aged ≥50 years hospitalized with RSV.Using administrative data and nasopharyngeal swabs collected from active surveillance among an acute respiratory illness (ARI) during 2012-2013, 2013-2014, 2014-2015 influenza seasons, RSV was identified using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction test associated burden, incidence,...
Abstract Background Influenza and RSV coinfections are not commonly seen but concerning as they can lead to serious illness adverse clinical outcomes among vulnerable populations. Here we describe the features of influenza in hospitalized adults. Methods A cohort study was performed with pooled active surveillance adults ≥ 50 years from Serious Outcomes Surveillance Network Canadian Immunization Research (CIRN SOS) during 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15 seasons. Descriptive statistics summarized...
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The 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) was recently shown to be effective against PCV13-type invasive disease (IPD) and community acquired pneumonia (CAPSpn) in healthy adults aged ≥65 years, prompting many countries re-assess adult immunization. In Canada, the potential benefits of PCV13 immunization were unclear given anticipated herd immunity from childhood introduced since 2010. This study describes serotype distribution clinical outcomes Canadian ≥16 who hospitalized with...
Containment measures employed during the COVID-19 pandemic included prompt recognition of cases, isolation, and contact tracing. Bilateral nasal (NA) swabs applied to a commercial antigen-based rapid diagnostic test (Ag-RDT) offer simpler more comfortable alternative nasopharyngeal (NP) collection; however, little is known about sensitivity this method in an asymptomatic population. Participants community-based testing sites were screened for SARS-CoV-2 using Ag-RDT with NP sampling....
ABSTRACT Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are the method of choice for Chlamydia trachomatis diagnosis, but these strategies susceptible to target site mutations. C. variants escaping detection with Aptima Combo 2 (AC2) assay on Hologic Panther instrument from 23S rRNA mutations have been reported in Nordic countries, England, Japan, and United States. Given potential false negative results, this study investigated whether strains AC2 were present Canada. Surveillance was conducted...
Abstract Background Oseltamivir is recommended for the treatment of adults hospitalized with influenza, but adherence often suboptimal. This may be due to doubts about reliability evidence supporting its benefits, particularly when initiation delayed. We aimed assess effectiveness oseltamivir in reducing mortality older a focus on timing initiation. Methods The CIRN-SOS Network gathered data severe respiratory illnesses across 5 Canadian provinces during influenza seasons 2012–2019....
Abstract Objective This study aimed to evaluate the impact of frailty on clinical outcomes and disease severity respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in older adults using data from Canadian Immunization Research Network (CIRN) Serious Outcomes Surveillance (SOS) Network. Methods cohort used CIRN SOS collected during 2012/13, 2013/14and 2014/15 influenza seasons. Patients aged ≥50 years who were hospitalized for acute illness tested RSV multiplex RT-PCR. The analysis focused frailty,...
ABSTRACT Legionella pneumophila expresses two catalase-peroxidase enzymes that exhibit strong peroxidatic but weak catalatic activities, suggesting other participate in decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O ). Comparative genomics revealed L. and its close relative Coxiella burnetii each contain peroxide-scavenging alkyl hydroperoxide reductase (AhpC) systems: AhpC1, which is similar to the Helicobacter pylori AhpC system, AhpC2 AhpD (AhpC2D), system Mycobacterium tuberculosis . To...
ABSTRACT Rapid methods for the detection and confirmatory identification of pandemic influenza A virus (also known as [H1N1] 2009) are utmost importance. In this study, a conventional reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) assay hemagglutinin swine lineage H1 (swH1) was designed, optimized, validated. Nucleic acids were extracted from 198 consecutive nasopharyngeal, nasal, or throat swab specimens collected early in outbreak (127 negative specimens, 66 with 2009 virus, 3 seasonal 2 [H3N2]...