Caroline Quach, MD, MSc, FRCPC

Primary Axis:

Health Outcomes

Research Focus:

Healthcare associated infections (HAI) are an important risk for the health of hospitalized patients. American and Canadian data estimates that these infections occur in about 10% of hospitalizations, representing 80,000 to 90,000 new cases per year in Quebec alone. Of those patients acquiring an HAI, up to 10% will die. We need and use more and more invasive devices to treat patients with more and more complex diseases, increasing even more the risk of infection. Dr. Quach’s research focuses on preventing the occurrence of HAIs. First, by defining the importance of ambulatory settings, such as the Emergency Department, in the acquisition of HAIs; by developing a useful way of following antibiotic use in pediatric settings – as more antibiotic use increases resistance of bacteria causing HAIs; by showing the importance of surveillance in the prevention of HAIs; and finally, by looking at vaccines as a strategy to decrease HAIs in the pediatric population. Dr. Quach is also interested in the epidemiology of infectious diseases in general.

Keywords:

Infectious Diseases, Pediatrics, Healthcare-associated infections, Nosocomial infections, Vaccine-preventable diseases, Epidemiology

Location:

Montreal Children's Hospital

Publications:

Paquette K, Cheng MP, McGillivray D, Lam C, Quach C. Evaluation of febrile infants (30-90 days-old): To do or not to do a lumbar puncture? Accepted in Pediatr Emerg Care (December 6, 2010)

Fontela PS, Platt RW, Rocher I, Frenette C, Moore D, Fortin E, Buckeridge D, Pai M, Quach C. Epidemiology of Central-line associated bloodstream infections in Quebec Intensive Care Units: A 6-year review. American Journal of Infection 2011 [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 21824682

Schneider-Lindner V, Quach C, Hanley JA, Suissa S. Antibacterials drugs and the risk of community-associated methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (Ca-MRSA) in children. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. Published online August 1, 2011. doi:10.1001/archpediatrics.2011.143

Verhagen P, Moore D, Manges A, Quach C. Nosocomial rotavirus gastroenteritis in a tertiary-care pediatric hospital: Incidence, burden and patients affected. J Hosp Infect 2011; 79: 59-63

Shilo N, Quach C, Pulmonary Infections and Community-Associated Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: A Dangerous Mix? Paediatric Respiratory Reviews, 2011; 12: 182-89

Fontela PS, Platt RW, Rocher I, Frenette C, Moore D, Buckeridge D, Pai M, Quach C. Surveillance Provinciale des Infections Nosocomiales (SPIN) Program : Implementation of a Mandatory Surveillance Program for Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections. American J Infect Control 2011; 39: 329-35

Cheng MP, Paquette K, Lands LC, Ovetchkine P, Theoret Y, Quach C Voriconazole Inhibition of Vitamin A Metabolism: Are Adverse Events Increased in Cystic Fibrosis Patients? Pediatr Pulmonol 2010; 45: 661-666.

Gilca R, Deceuninck G, De Serres G, Boulianne N, Sauvageau C, Quach C, Boucher FD, Skorownski D. A single half-dose of AS03-adjuvanted pandemic H1N1 vaccine protects well against hospitalization in children aged 6 months to 9 years. Accepted in Pediatrics (July 12, 2011)

Gatewood Hoen A, Buckeridge DL, Charland KML, Mandl KD, Quach C, Brownstein JS. Effects of expanded recommendations for pediatric seasonal influenza vaccination: a comparison of two pediatric emergency departments in Boston, USA and Montreal, Canada. CMAJ 2011; 183; E1025-32

Quach C, Moore DL, Ducharme F, Chalut D. Do Pediatric Emergency Departments pose a Risk of Infection? BMC Pediatrics 2011; 11:2