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Streptococcus and STI Unit

Laboratory Details

Division:
Bacterial Pathogens, AMR and Wastewater
Address:
1015 Arlington Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3E 3R2
Phone #:
(204) 789-6063; STI: (204) 784-5995
Fax:
(204) 789-2140
Description:

The Streptococcus and STI Unit provides surveillance, reference diagnostic services, and research on Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Mycoplasma genitalium. The National Laboratory Surveillance of Invasive Streptococcal Disease in Canada (eSTREP) characterizes the types of Streptococcal cultures causing disease by serotypes, emm types and antimicrobial resistance to monitor trends in disease. Data supports public health outbreak investigations and used by National Advisory Committee for Immunizations to update vaccine guidelines. Surveillance reports are published in the Canadian Communicable Disease Report (CCDR) annually. In addition, the Streptococcus and STI Unit participates in international and national surveillance programs such as the Canadian Ward Surveillance Study (CAN-WARD), the Immunization Monitoring Program Active (IMPACT) and International Circumpolar Surveillance (ICS).

The N. gonorrhoeae work includes the Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Program – Canada (GASP-Canada) which characterizes antimicrobial resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae causing disease to monitor trends and support outbreak investigations. Gonococcal surveillance data is published in the Canadian Communicable Disease Report (CCDR) annually. A subset of GASP-Canada isolates are included in the Enhanced Surveillance of Antimicrobial-Resistant Gonorrhea (ESAG) system which links laboratory and epidemiological case data including gonorrhea treatment and risk factor data. GASP-Canada and ESAG data improves the understanding of emerging gonorrhea antimicrobial resistance trends in Canada and are used by Canadian STI Treatment Guidelines to update treatment recommendations.

Research activities include the molecular characterization of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms using whole genome sequencing and developing real-time PCR assays to predict antimicrobial susceptibilities in clinical specimens. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of STIs reported in Canada as well as the emergence of gonococcal strains with decreased susceptibility to 3rd generation cephalosporins and resistance to azithromycin. The M. genitalium program focuses on determining azithromycin and moxifloxacin antimicrobial resistance. 

Proficiency Panels

Proficiency Panels
Proficiency PanelPathogen
National Gonococcal Antimicrobial Susceptibility Comparison Program Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Proficiency Panel Reports

Requisition Form

Reference Diagnostic Tests

Reference Diagnostic Tests
PathogenTest CategoryReference Diagnostic Test
Haemophilus ducreyi Molecular Detection Molecular Detection by PCR
Mycoplasma genitalium Susceptibility Testing Molecular Detection of Mutations Associated with Antimicrobial Resistance
Neisseria gonorrhoeae Legal Case Workup Legal Case Workup
Neisseria gonorrhoeae Susceptibility Testing Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing
Neisseria gonorrhoeae Molecular Typing Molecular Determination of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Multi-antigen Sequence Type (NG-MAST) using Gonorrhea-positive nucleic acid amplification test specimens (NAATs)
Neisseria gonorrhoeae Susceptibility Testing Molecular Determination of Mutations associated with Antimicrobial Resistance using Gonorrhea-positive nucleic acid amplification test specimens (NAATs)
Streptococcus agalactiae Susceptibility Testing Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing
Streptococcus agalactiae Serotyping Serotype determination for Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus)
Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotyping Serotype determination of Streptococcus pneumoniae
Streptococcus pneumoniae Molecular Detection Molecular detection and serotyping by PCR
Streptococcus pneumoniae Susceptibility Testing Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing
Streptococcus pyogenes Genotyping Determination of emm type for Streptococcus pyogenes by PCR
Streptococcus pyogenes Susceptibility Testing Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing