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. 2016 Apr 7;42(4):74-82.
doi: 10.14745/ccdr.v42i04a01.

Invasive Bacterial Diseases in Northern Canada, 2006-2013

Y A Li  1 , I Martin  2 , R Tsang  2 , S G Squires  1 , W Demczuk  2 , S Desai  1
Affiliations

Invasive Bacterial Diseases in Northern Canada, 2006-2013

Y A Li et al. Can Commun Dis Rep. .

Abstract

Background: Northern populations were at a high risk of developing invasive bacterial diseases (IBDs). Since the last published study that described IBDs in Northern Canada, a number of vaccines against some bacterial pathogens have been introduced into the routine childhood immunization schedule.

Objective: To describe the epidemiology of IBDs in Northern Canada from 2006 to 2013.

Methods: Data for 5 IBDs (invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease (Hi), invasive Group A streptococcal disease (iGAS), invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) and invasive Group B streptococcal disease (GBS)) were extracted from the International Circumpolar Surveillance (ICS) program and the Canadian Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System. Incidence rates were calculated per 100,000 population per year.

Results: During the study period, the incidence rates of IPD ranged from 16.84-30.97, iGAS 2.70-17.06, Hi serotype b 0-2.78, Hi non-b type 2.73-8.53, and IMD 0-3.47. Except for IMD and GBS, the age-standardized incidence rates of other diseases in Northern Canada were 2.6-10 times higher than in the rest of Canada. Over the study period, rates decreased for IPD (p=0.04), and iGAS (p=0.01), and increased for Hi type a (Hia) (p=0.004). Among IPD cases, the proportion of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)7 serotypes decreased (p=0.0004) over the study period. Among Hi cases, 69.8% were Hia and 71.6% of these were in children under than 5 years. Of 13 IMD cases, 8 were serogroup B and 2 of them died.

Conclusion: Northern population in Canada, especially infants and seniors among First Nations and Inuit, are at a high risk of IPD, Hi and iGAS. Hia is the predominant serotype in Northern Canada.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Invasive pneumococcal disease serotype distribution by year and incidence rates (per 100,000 population) by year and ethnicity in Northern Canada, 2006–20131,2
Abbreviations: IPD, invasive pneumococcal disease; PCV, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine; PPV, pneumococcal polysaccharides vaccine
1 PCV7 serotypes: 7 serotypes included in PCV7, i.e., serotype 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, and 23F; PCV13 serotypes: additional 6 serotypes included in PCV13 compared to PCV7, i.e., serotype 1, 3, 5, 6A, 7F, and 19A; PPV23 serotypes refers to additional 11 serotypes included in PPV23 compared to PCV13, i.e., serotype 2, 8, 9N, 10A, 11A, 12F, 15B, 17F, 20, 22F, and 33F
2 A total of 23 cases without ethnicity information were excluded for the incidence calculation
Figure 2
Figure 2. Serotype distribution of invasive Hi disease cases and serotype specific incidence rates in Northern Canada, by year, 2006–20131
1Three cases with serotype missing were excluded
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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