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Invasive bacterial diseases in northern Canada, 1999 to 2018
Grace Huang1, Irene Martin2, Raymond S Tsang2
1Infectious Disease Programs Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON.
Background:
The International Circumpolar Surveillance (ICS) program conducts surveillance on five invasive bacterial diseases: pneumococcal disease (IPD), group A streptococcus (iGAS), Haemophilus influenzae (Hi), meningococcal disease (IMD) and group B streptococcus (GBS). Invasive bacterial diseases have a higher burden of disease in northern populations than the rest of Canada.
Methods:
To describe the epidemiology of invasive bacterial diseases in northern Canada from 1999 to 2018, data for IPD, iGAS, Hi, IMD and GBS were extracted from the ICS program and the Canadian Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (CNDSS) and analyzed.
Results:
The annualized incidence rates for IPD, iGAS, Hi, GBS and IMD were 23.3, 10.5, 8.9, 1.9 and 1.1 per 100,000 population, respectively. The incidence of IPD, iGAS and Hi serotype b were 2.8, 3.2 and 8.8 times higher, respectively, in northern Canada than in the rest of Canada. Rates of disease decreased statistically significantly for IPD (β=-0.02) and increased statistically for iGAS (β=0.08) and Hi serotype a (β=0.04) during the study period. In Northern Canada, the annualized incidence rates for IPD, iGAS and Hi were statistically higher for Indigenous residents than for non-Indigenous residents. The highest incidence rates were among the very young and older age groups.
Conclusion:
Invasive bacterial diseases represent a high burden of disease in Canada's northern populations. Indigenous peoples, children and seniors are particularly at risk.
Insights
Invasive bacterial diseases like pneumococcal disease are a significant health concern in northern Canada, disproportionately affecting Indigenous peoples, children, and seniors. Surveillance data from 1999-2018 highlights these disparities and disease trends.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- The International Circumpolar Surveillance (ICS) program monitors five key invasive bacterial diseases.
- Northern Canadian populations experience a higher burden of invasive bacterial diseases compared to the rest of Canada.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the epidemiology of invasive bacterial diseases in northern Canada between 1999 and 2018.
- To identify trends and high-risk populations for specific invasive bacterial diseases.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the ICS program and the Canadian Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (CNDSS).
- Analyzed epidemiological data for pneumococcal disease (IPD), group A streptococcus (iGAS), *Haemophilus influenzae* (Hi), meningococcal disease (IMD), and group B streptococcus (GBS).
Main Results:
- Annualized incidence rates per 100,000 population were highest for IPD (23.3), iGAS (10.5), and Hi (8.9).
- Incidence of IPD, iGAS, and Hi serotype b were significantly higher in northern Canada compared to the national average.
- Rates for IPD decreased, while iGAS and Hi serotype a increased over the study period. Indigenous residents, children, and seniors exhibited higher incidence rates.
Conclusions:
- Invasive bacterial diseases pose a substantial health burden in northern Canada.
- Indigenous peoples, young children, and the elderly are identified as particularly vulnerable populations.
- Ongoing surveillance is crucial for understanding and mitigating the impact of these diseases.
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