Current Research

Calgary Daycare STEC Outbreak Long-Term Follow-Up Study

In the fall of 2023, several daycares in Calgary experienced a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) outbreak. This bacterial infection is most common in children and can lead to potentially severe outcomes. In addition to causing severe diarrhea and abdominal pains, the major consequential effect of this infection occurs in the kidney. However, additional severe acute effects can be seen in essentially any organ system, and some of these lead to life-threatening acute complications and long-term disabilities. Unfortunately, few studies have followed large numbers of children with varying severities of acute infection over prolonged periods of time and as such, long-term prognosis cannot be predicted with accuracy. As such this study aims to clarify the long-term consequences associated with infection across a range of severity in terms of the acute infection.

Surveillance Program for the Rapid Identification and Tracking of Infectious Diseases in Kids

The Surveillance Program for the Rapid Identification and Tracking of Infectious Diseases in Kids (SPRINT-KIDS) surveillance network works with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to support their public health surveillance mandate. SPRINT-KIDS is a nation-wide 14-site, hospital-based system that consists of three project arms: Monitoring Vaccine Safety, Measuring Vaccine Effectiveness, and Tracking Respiratory Infections.

Hyperhydration to Improve Kidney Outcomes in Children with Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli Infection

Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infection is a moderately common and potentially severe disease that is the most common cause of acquired kidney failure in children. Medical interventions remain limited to providing support if and when kidney failure develops. We are developing a study to test a proactive intervention to diminish the risk of developing kidney injury and/or reduce its severity.

Indices of Inflammation in Children Presenting to the Emergency Department with Wheeze

The diagnosis and management of wheeze in children can be challenging for health care providers. Children present to the Emergency Department (ED) with wheeze associated with many diseases, including asthma, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia. It is essential to identify the correct diagnosis underlying the symptom of wheeze in children as management of these diseases varies greatly. The Wheeze study aims to determine whether nasopharyngeal aspirate specimens from children presenting with wheeze can help establish an objective way to differentiate asthma, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia in children presenting to the ED with wheeze.

Precision Medicine for Detection of Invasive Bacterial Infections Among Febrile Infants ≤60 Days Old