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CADTH » Priorities » Infectious Diseases

Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases are caused by microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi), which can spread through the environment, through animals, and through human contact.

Taking many forms, infectious diseases cause death and disability and are a key health policy concern across Canada.

Emerging infectious diseases (such as those caused by H1N1, West Nile virus, and antimicrobial-resistant strains) pose new challenges to Canadians, and are responsible for significant social and economic disruption.

Re-emerging infectious diseases (old diseases that have become prevalent again) are also problematic. For example, in 2010 Nunavut documented at least 100 new active cases of tuberculosis — the highest number in the territory’s history and representing an infection rate 62 times the Canadian average.

Persisting infectious diseases, such as pneumonia and influenza, may not receive as much media attention as the aforementioned examples, but they continue to burden Canadians. Statistics Canada reports that influenza and pneumonia are the leading cause of death from infectious diseases in Canada and the eighth most common cause of death overall (based on data from 2007 — the most recent year for which data is available).

Why this theme area?

The Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) has selected infectious diseases as a priority theme area for a number of reasons:

  • Infectious diseases and pandemics threaten the health of all Canadians, regardless of age, socioeconomic status, or ethnicity.
  • According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, the cost of health care-associated infectious diseases has been estimated to be between $453 million and $1 billion annually.
  • New genomic, vaccine, and molecular diagnostic technology has the potential to change health care delivery, but decision-makers require evidence-based information and advice on its use.
  • A December 2009 scan of 38 organizations related to technology assessment in Canada revealed that few (three) organizations are actively engaged in technology assessment activities associated with infectious disease management.

CADTH research

CADTH has completed many reports on infectious diseases including health technology assessments, environmental scans, rapid assessments, and drug reviews.

Recent highlights in CADTH work in infectious diseases include projects on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium difficile, as well as projects that inform pandemic planning and guideline development to prevent transmission of respiratory viruses.

CADTH will continue to expand this theme area and is partnering with a wide range of stakeholders to address prevention, detection, treatment, and control of infectious diseases.

The CADTH priority themes reflect the needs of Canada’s health care system. CADTH is focusing on developing products and services to support health care decision-makers within the priority themes.