Infectious Diseases

Key guidance documents

• COVID-19 Guidance on Personal Protective Equipment for Health Care Workers and Health Care Entities
• Sector-based Guidance Documents for Healthcare (Ministry of Health)

COVID-19 Data and Surveillance

• Public Health Ontario COVID-19 Data Tool   Ontario COVID-19 Data Tool | Public Health Ontario

COVID-19 Testing and Treatment

Publicly funded PCR testing for eligible individuals remains available at select locations in Brantford/Brant. If you are referring patients to one of these locations, advise them to wear a well-fitted mask in all indoor spaces and outdoors if physical distancing cannot be maintained.

Clinical Resources:

• COVID‑19 testing and treatment | ontario.ca
• For guidance on prescribing antiviral treatment:

• COVID-19: Clinical Guidance for Primary Care Providers | Centre for Effective Practice – Digital Tools (cep.health)
• Access to COVID-19 antiviral treatment (Paxlovid) (ontariohealth.ca)

COVID-19 Infection prevention and control (IPAC)

Routine practices are required for all clinical interactions, independent of any concern for the possibility of COVID-19 or other infectious diseases, and therefore remain important regardless of the respiratory virus transmission risk.

For additional precautions and recommendations specific to COVID-19, see IPAC Recommendations for Use of Personal Protective Equipment for Care of Individuals with Suspect or Confirmed COVID-19.

See Public Health Ontario’s technical brief for guidance on IPAC measures based on respiratory virus transmission in health care settings

MPOX (formerly known as monkeypox) virus is an Orthopoxvirus that causes symptoms similar to, but less severe than smallpox, and is endemic to parts of Central and West Africa.  As of May 2022, clusters of MPOX cases were identified in non-endemic countries, including Canada.

• MPOX virus overview: including transmission and clinical signs / symptoms (Ontario Ministry of Health).
• MPOX virus: local update for Brant (Brant County Health Unit).
• Recommendations for the management of cases and contacts of MPOX in Ontario (Ministry of Health)

Clinical Summary

• Testing and Management for MPOX: Information for PCPs (Ontario Health)

Epidemiology

• Local data in Ontario: Public Health Ontario
• Global context: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Laboratory Testing

• For up-to-date information on sample collection and submission, please refer to PHO’s MPOX Virus Information Sheet

Reporting to Public Health

• All suspected and confirmed cases of MPOX must be reported to BCHU via secure fax to local Medical Officer of Health at 519-753-9127.
• For more information, contact Brant County Health Unit at 519-753-4937 ext. 454 infectioncontrol@bchu.org. Please provide your designation and reason for contact to ensure priority.

Vaccine

• Imvamune® can be used as pre-exposure or post-exposure prophylaxis.  BCHU continues to offer vaccination to groups based on the Ontario Ministry of Health guidelines.

The Health Unit investigates all animal bites and scratches reported in Brantford and Brant County. Any resident bitten or scratched by an animal is advised to get medical attention right away and report the bit to the Health Unit:

• During regular business hours (Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
  • Phone: 519-753-4937 ext. 454 OR
  • Email: infectioncontrol@bchu.org OR
  • Fax: 519-753-9127
• After hours
  • Phone only: 519-753-4937 (stay on the line to speak to an operator)

Resources

Health-care providers must report all cases of latent Tuberculosis (TB) infection, active disease, and positive skin tests to the Health Unit by:

• During regular business hours (Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
  • Phone: 519-753-4937 ext. 454 OR
  • Email: infectioncontrol@bchu.org OR
  • Fax: 519-753-9127
• After hours
  • Phone only: 519-753-4937 (stay on the line to speak to an operator)

We provide:

• Infectious Diseases fact sheets
• STI fact sheets
• Management of Tick Bites and Investigation of Early Localized Lyme Disease (Health Quality Ontario)
• Early Lyme Disease Management in Primary Care (Centre for Effective Practice)
• Mandatory Blood Testing Act application forms
• Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee (PIDAC)
  • Best practice documents available online
• Regional Infection Prevention and Control Support Team
  • Our region – Central West Region
• Public Health Ontario
  • Laboratory services including testing information, how to order supplies and requisitions
  • Infection prevention and control best practices
  • Education and training modules
  • Infectious disease information and guidelines
  • Provincial and local surveillance data
• Canadian Guidelines on Sexually Transmitted Infections (Public Health Agency of Canada)
• Public Health Agency of Canada Primary Care Management of Hepatitis B – Quick Reference Guide