Streptococcus and STI Section

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.