About National Infectious Diseases Day

The National Infectious Diseases Coalition is a Canadian organization – comprised of Microbiology and Infectious diseases societies, a foundation and corporations – established in 2007 to promote awareness and encourage action around infectious diseases by Canadians and their government (please see appendix to learn more about our coalition).

Infections associated with patients in healthcare settings are one of the most significant infectious disease challenges in Canada. One in nine Canadian patients admitted to hospital each year will acquire an infectious disease. Estimates are that hospital infections will kill 8,000 to 12,000 Canadians each year. We can no longer ignore these numbers; it is time to take action.

The coalition’s current focus is on two organisms that are increasingly causing illness in Canadians, especially patients in hospitals and other healthcare settings, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile.

Control of healthcare infections is a complex task shared by many throughout Canada, including infection control practitioners, nurses, physicians, epidemiologists, and laboratory technologists working in healthcare institutions, universities and government. Activities surrounding infection control such as; surveillance, diagnosis, prevention and control and therapy, are currently under-funded. In addition, the shortage of expert advisors to fulfill these positions across Canada is a continuing and growing concern that needs to be addressed.