Background: In Canada, iGAS activity increased significantly in 2023 compared to pre-pandemic years, prompting the need for enhanced surveillance and the collection of epidemiological and laboratory-linked data. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), in collaboration with provincial and territorial (PT) partners, developed and implemented a national enhanced surveillance system to provide comprehensive, timely data on national iGAS trends.
Methods: The National Enhanced iGAS Surveillance System was developed through extensive consultations with PT laboratory and epidemiological partners. An iGAS FPT working group was established in 2023 to explore the feasibility of national enhanced surveillance. A survey was conducted to assess iGAS data collection and availability across PTs. Based on survey results and partner consultation, a surveillance protocol and standard dataset were developed. PT partners formally endorsed the implementation of the surveillance system in February 2024, and full implementation occurred in October 2024.
Results: All 13 Canadian PTs agreed to participate in the surveillance system, which collects information on demographics, case outcomes, clinical manifestations, risk factors, and laboratory variables Several challenges were encountered throughout the development and implementation of the surveillance system, including differences in the collection of case-level iGAS data across jurisdictions, and differing definitions of epidemiological variables.
Conclusion: The National Enhanced iGAS Surveillance System provides detailed epidemiological and laboratory data for iGAS cases in Canada. This data is essential for understanding changes in iGAS epidemiology, including risk factors, case outcomes, and emm types, which can inform public health actions and contribute to the global evidence base on iGAS.