CNISP Protocols & Publications
Quick Index
The Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program (CNISP) is a collaborative effort of the Canadian Hospital Epidemiology Committee (CHEC), a subcommittee of the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease (AMMI) Canada and the Centre for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control (CCDIC) of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). IPAC Canada has a representative in this program.
CNISP Surveillance Protocols
For protocols or documents not appearing below, contact CNISP: cnisp-pcsin@phac-aspc.gc.ca. The CNISP InfoBase page can be found here
for the CNISP InfoBase page to the IPAC website.
- Antimicrobial Utilization (AMU) Protocol (2022)
- HAI Surveillance Case Definitions (2020)
- Hospital Antibiogram Protocol (2023)
- Surveillance Definitions of Infections in Canadian Long Term Care Facilities (2017)
- Surveillance for Candida auris (2023)
- Surveillance for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI, 2022)
- Surveillance for Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infections (CLABSI) in Intensive Care
Units, ICUs (2023) - Surveillance Protocol for Carbapenemase-Producing Organisms (CPO, 2023)
- Surveillance of Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Shunt Associated Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) Surveillance Protocol (2022)
- Surveillance Protocol for the Enhanced Hospital Profile (EHP, 2023)
- Surveillance of Surgical Sites Infections (SSIs) Following Hip and Knee Arthroplasty (2022)
- Surveillance Protocol for Methicillin-Resistant and Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA & MSSA) Bloodstream Infections (2023)
- Surveillance of Surgical Sites Infections Following Pediatric Cardiac Surgery (2022)
- Surveillance Protocol for Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) Bloodstream Infections (2022)
- Surveillance for viral respiratory infections (VRI) among inpatients (2023)
Protocoles de Surveillance PCSIN
- Définitions dés cas surveillance des infections associées aux soins de santé IAS (2020)
- Protocole de surveillance des infections à Staphylococcus aureus résistant à la méthicilline et sensible à la méthicilline (SARM & SASM) (2023)
- Protocole d’hôpital sur l’antibiogramme (2022)
- Surveillance de Candida auris (2023)
- Surveillance des infections du sang à entérocoques résistants à la vancomycine (ERV, 2022)
- Surveillance des infections à Clostridioides difficile (ICD, 2022)
- Surveillance des infections des sites opératoires (ISO) après une opération cardiaque pédiatrique (2022)
- Surveillance des infections du site opératoire (ISO) après une arthroplastie de la hanche ou du genou (2023)
- Surveillance des infections du site opératoire (ISO) des voies de dérivation du liquide céphalorachidien (LCR, 2022)
- Surveillance des infections du système sanguin associées aux cathéters centraux (ISSACC) dans
les unités de soins intensifs (USI, 2023) - Protocole de surveillance des organismes producteurs de carbapénémases (OPC, 2023)
- Surveillance du profil détaillé des hôpitaux (PDH, 2023)
- Protocole d’utilisation des antimicrobiens (UAM, 2023)
- Surveillance des infections respiratoires virales (IRV, 2023)
Canadian Nosocomial Surveillance Program data are now available online to any acute-care hospital or Canadian looking for information on healthcare-associated infections (including antimicrobial resistant organisms) in a sentinel hospital network from across Canada:
- Healthcare-associated Infection (HAI) & Antimicrobial Resistant Organism (ARO) data
- Programme canadien de surveillance des infections nosocomiales (PCSIN)
CNISP Infographics
- CNISP Infographic: Trends among healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial-resistant organisms (AROs) in Canada (2022)
- PCSIN Inforgraphie: Tendances des infections associées aux soins de santé (IASS) et des organismes résistants aux antimicrobiens (ORA) au Canada (2022)
- CNISP Infographic: Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program (2020)
- PCSIN Inforgraphie: Programme canadien de surveillance des infections nosocomiales (2020)
CNISP Surveillance Reports & Resources
- How healthy are people in Canada? An indicators dashboard
- Laboratory Surveillance 2019
- Surveillance en laboratoire dans le cadre du PCSIN (2019)
- Device-associated infections in Canadian acute-care hospitals from 2009 to 2018
- Summary Report of Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI), Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Antimicrobial Use (AMU) Surveillance Data from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2017
- Rapport sommaire sur les données de surveillance des infections associées aux soins de santé (IASS), la résistance aux antimicrobiens (RAM) et l’utilisation des antimicrobiens (UAM) du 1er janvier 2013 au 31 décembre 2017
- Antimicrobial Resistant Organisms (ARO) Surveillance: Surveillance Report for data from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2014
- Surveillance des micro-organismes résistant aux antimicrobiens : Rapport de surveillance sur résultats du 1 janvier 2009 au 31 décembre 2014
- Central Venous Catheter-Associated Blood Stream Infections (CLA-BSI) in Intensive Care units in Canadian Acute-Care Hospitals: Surveillance Report January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2011
- Bactériémies associées aux cathéters veineux centraux dans les unités de soins intensifs des hôpitaux canadiens de soins de courte durée: Rapport de surveillance du 1er janvier 2006 au 31 décembre 2006 et 1er janvier 2009 au 31 décembre 2011
About CNISP
The Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program (CNISP) is a hospital sentinel network, which includes 90 acute care hospitals in 10 provinces and two territories. CNISP was established in 1995 and is a collaboration between the Public Health Agency of Canada including the National Microbiology Laboratory, the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada and sentinel hospitals across Canada.
CNISP collects national level data on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), antibiotic resistant organisms (AROs), antibiograms, and antimicrobial use. Through active surveillance and reporting, epidemiologic and laboratory data are used to inform infection prevention and control and antimicrobial stewardship programs and policies.
CNISP surveillance activities include:
- Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections (BSI)
- Carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPO)
- Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) BSI
- Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI)
- Central-line associated BSI (CLABSI)
- Hip and knee surgical site infections (SSI)
- Cerebrospinal fluid shunt SSI
- Pediatric cardiac SSI
- Antimicrobial use
- Candida auris
- Antibiogram
- Viral respiratory infections/COVID-19
- Point prevalence surveys
Permission has been given to IPAC Canada to provide CNISP information on the IPAC Canada website from our members. More information about CNISP projects may be found on the CNISP website
CNISP Objectives
- Establish ongoing national surveillance system to determine the epidemiology of nosocomial infections in Canadian hospitals
- Establish "benchmark" data
- Provide data that can be used to develop national guidelines for infection prevention CNISP Hospitals
- Predominantly teaching hospitals, with required expertise and commitment
CNISP Limitations
- Significant workload at hospital sites, particularly impacted by hospital capacity
- Currently not conducting surveillance in long term care facilities
CNISP Achievements
- Only national surveillance system in Canada collecting epidemiologic and linked microbiology data regarding healthcare acquired infections
- Network of hospitals that has worked in partnership with PHAC/National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) since 1995
- Has provided Canadian "benchmark" data for a variety of healthcare-associated infections as well as viral respiratory infections, such as Covid-19
Permission has been given to IPAC Canada to provide CNISP information on the IPAC Canada website for our members. More information about CNISP projects may be found on the CNISP website: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/surveillance.html#a6
CNISP Publications
2022
- Antimicrobial use in Canadian acute-care hospitals: Findings from three national point-prevalence surveys between 2002 and 2017
- Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus sequence type 1478 spread across hospitals participating in the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program from 2013 to 2018
2021
2020
- Emergence of pstS-Null Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecium Clone ST1478, Canada, 2013–2018
- Healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance in Canadian acute care hospitals, 2014-2018
- Device-Associated Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) in Canadian Acute-Care Hospitals from 2009 – 2018
- Antimicrobial use among adult inpatients at hospital sites within the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program: 2009 to 2016
- Preparedness for Candida auris in Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program (CNISP) hospitals, 2018
- Prevalence of Candida auris in Canadian acute care hospitals among at-risk patients, 2018
2019
2018
- Response to Alert on Possible Infections with Mycobacterium chimaera From Contaminated Heater-Cooler Devices in Hospitals Participating in the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program (CNISP)
- The evolving epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection in Canadian hospitals during a postepidemic period (2009–2015)
2017
2009
- Surveillance for Healthcare-Acquired Febrile Respiratory Infection in Pediatric Hospitals Participating in the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program
- Infection control practices related to Clostridium difficile infection in acute care hospitals in Canada
- Health Care–Associated Clostridium difficile Infection in Adults Admitted to Acute Care Hospitals in Canada: A Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program Study
- Study of Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunt–Associated Infections in the First Year Following Placement, by the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program
- Risk factors for, and outcomes associated with, clinical isolates of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species resistant to extended-spectrum cephalosporins among patients admitted to Canadian hospitals
2008
2007
- A point prevalence survey of healthcare-associated infections in pediatric populations in major Canadian acute care hospitals
- Infection control and antimicrobial restriction practices for antimicrobial-resistant organisms in Canadian tertiary care hospitals
- Mupirocin-Resistant, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains in Canadian Hospitals
- Comparative Genomics of Canadian Epidemic Lineages of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
- ampC gene expression in promoter mutants of cefoxitin-resistant Escherichia coli clinical isolates
- Point prevalence survey for healthcare-associated infections within Canadian adult acute-care hospitals
- Acinetobacter baumannii in casualties returning from Afghanistan
2006
- VanG-Type Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecalis Strains Isolated in Canada
- Central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections occurring in Canadian intensive care units: A six-month cohort study
- Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Canadian Aboriginal People
2005
- Surveillance for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Canadian Hospitals – A Report Update from the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program
- Clinical and Epidemiologic Features of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus
aureus in Elderly Hospitalized Patients - The relationship between hospital infection surveillance and control activities and antibiotic-resistant pathogen rates
2004
- Incidence of bloodstream infection in multicenter inception cohorts of hemodialysis patients
- Molecular Characterization of Cefoxitin-Resistant Escherichia coli from Canadian Hospitals
- Complete Nucleotide Sequence of a 92-Kilobase Plasmid Harboring the CTX-M-15 Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Involved in an Outbreak in Long-Term-Care Facilities in Toronto, Canada
2003
- Ambler Class A Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. in Canadian Hospitals
- The state of infection surveillance and control in Canadian acute care hospitals (AJIC)
- The state of infection surveillance and control in Canadian acute care hospitals (CJIC)
2002
- Morbidity, Mortality, and Healthcare Burden of Nosocomial Clostridium difficile–Associated Diarrhea in Canadian Hospitals
- Prospective surveillance for primary bloodstream infections occurring in Canadian hemodialysis units
- Laboratory Characterization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
in Canadian Hospitals: Results of 5 Years of National Surveillance, 1995–1999
2001
- N-CDAD in Canada: Results of the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program 1997 N-CDAD Prevalence Surveillance Project
- The emerging epidemiology of VRE in Canada: Results of the CNISP Passive Reporting Network, 1994 to 1998
- Identification of the first vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecalis harbouring vanE in Canada
- Reuse of single-use medical devices in Canadian acute-care healthcare facilities, 2001
- The evolution of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Canadian hospitals: 5 years of national surveillance
1999
1997
- The Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program: Results of the first 18 months of surveillance for methicilllin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Canadian hospitals
- Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in Canada – Results of the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program. 1996 VRE point prevalence surveillance project
Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (CARSS)
- Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (CARSS) Report 2022
- Antimicrobial Resistance in Canada: Findings from the 2022 Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System Report
- Antimicrobial use (AMU) in the Canadian community sector
Canada Communicable Disease Report (CCDR)
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