Infectious Disease

The team’s vision is to conduct and disseminate high-quality clinical research in infectious diseases of children and youth in collaboration with local, provincial and national partners. The research focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, management and impact of infectious diseases in children and youth with specific attention to vulnerable populations.

Themes:

Vaccination/immunizations
Primary and acquired immune deficiencies/HIV
Molecular diagnostics
Health care associated infections
New Canadians (immigrants, refugees, internationally adopted)
Evidence-based health advocacy

Related News

Research Projects

Cephalexin use in a pediatric emergency Department during the shortage of amoxicillin suspension
12/11/2025

During a significant shortage of amoxicillin suspension in Canada in late 2022, local guidelines recommended cephalexin as an alternative with restricted use of amoxicillin-clavulanate (AC). The aim of the study was to determine outcomes of patients with a diagnosis of acute otitis media (AOM), community acquired pneumonia (AOM) and pharyngitis who were prescribed cephalexin compared to other antibiotics in the emergency department (ED).
Structural brain differences in school-aged children who are HIV-exposed uninfected
26/08/2025

As antiretroviral therapy has reduced perinatal HIV transmission, understanding the long‑term neurodevelopmental effects of in utero HIV and ART exposure in children who are HIV‑exposed but uninfected (CHEU) has become increasingly important. In this Ontario‑based MRI study of children aged 6–12 years, CHEU showed significantly smaller total brain volumes, thinner cortices, and sex‑specific alterations in regions involved in motor function, language, memory, and emotion compared with unexposed peers. These findings suggest altered neurodevelopmental trajectories—particularly among boys—and underscore the need for early monitoring and targeted support for CHEU.
Urban wastewater contains a functional human antibody repertoire of mucosal origin
01/12/2024

This study aimed to identify and characterize human antibodies present in wastewater as a novel approach to monitoring population‑level immunity. The authors found a stable repertoire of predominantly secretory IgA antibodies in wastewater solids that retained binding to SARS‑CoV‑2 and Influenza A antigens. These findings suggest that wastewater‑derived antibodies could enable real‑time surveillance of community immunity and support evaluation of vaccination and infection trends.
Teaching Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes Self-Compassion (TADS) to Reduce Diabetes Distress: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
26/12/2023

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate whether a web‑based mindful self‑compassion program can reduce diabetes distress and related mental health challenges among adolescents living with type 1 diabetes. By comparing the intervention with standard care, the study will assess impacts on emotional well‑being, diabetes‑related behaviors, and glycemic control over 12 months. The findings are expected to inform scalable psychological supports that help adolescents better manage the emotional demands of living with type 1 diabetes.
Longitudinal associations between different types of screen use and depression and anxiety symptoms in adolescents
27/04/2023

This longitudinal study examined how different types of screen behaviours were associated with anxiety and depression symptoms among Canadian adolescents over a one‑year period. Greater time spent on screens—across multiple screen types—was linked to higher subsequent anxiety and depressive symptoms, with patterns varying by screen behaviour and sex. These findings suggest that screen time is an important and nuanced determinant of adolescent mental health and may be a key target for prevention and intervention efforts.
Evidence supporting a combined movement behavior approach for children and youth’s mental health-A scoping review and environmental scan
01/03/2023

This scoping review examined the evidence linking combined 24‑hour movement behaviors—physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep—with mental health outcomes in children and youth, and identified existing knowledge‑mobilization tools. Most studies reported positive associations with mental wellness and negative associations with indicators of mental illness when movement behaviors were considered together, yet very few tools integrate all three behaviors in relation to mental health. The findings highlight a clear need for integrated approaches to monitor and promote healthy movement behaviors to support youth mental health.
Reducing social media use improves appearance and weight esteem in youth with emotional distress
24/02/2023

This randomized controlled trial examined whether reducing smartphone social media use improves body image among adolescents and young adults experiencing emotional distress. Participants who limited social media use to one hour per day showed significant improvements in appearance and weight esteem compared with those with unrestricted use. These findings provide experimental evidence that reducing smartphone social media exposure may be a feasible and effective strategy for improving body image in vulnerable youth.
Near real-time determination of B. 1.1. 7 in proportion to total SARS-CoV-2 viral load in wastewater using an allele-specific primer extension PCR strategy
15/10/2021

Our study demonstrates that this strategy can provide public health units with an additional and much needed tool to rapidly triangulate VOC incidence/prevalence with high sensitivity and lineage specificity.
The role of wastewater testing for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance
26/08/2021

These characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection, along with the observation that SARSCoV-2 is excreted in stools during all phases of infection, has led to the uptake of wastewater testing to complement SARS-CoV-2 surveillance based on clinical tests and case identification.
Quantitative analysis of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from wastewater solids in communities with low COVID-19 incidence and prevalence
19/08/2020

Can we find COVID-19 markers in the wastewater that will help predict outbreaks?
Combined influence of practice guidelines and prospective audit and feedback stewardship on antimicrobial treatment of community-acquired pneumonia and empyema in children: 2012 to 2016
30/06/2020

Use of AAP should also be strongly considered in patients with effusions (even if no pathogen is identified), as clinical outcome appears similar to patients treated with broad-spectrum antimicrobials.
CpG Methylation in TGFβ1 and IL-6 Genes as Surrogate Biomarkers for Diagnosis of IBD in Children
14/05/2020

We found that CpG methylation in the promoter of the TGFβ1 gene has high discriminative power for identifying CD and UC and could serve as an important diagnostic marker
Epidemiology and Clinical Outcomes of Hospitalizations for Acute Respiratory or Febrile Illness and Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza Among Pregnant Women During Six Influenza Seasons, 2010–2016
01/05/2020

Our findings characterize seasonal influenza hospitalizations among pregnant women and can inform assessments of the public health and economic impact of seasonal influenza on pregnant women.
SMAC mimetics and RIPK inhibitors as therapeutics for chronic inflammatory diseases
18/02/2020

This may benefit and guide the development of SMs or selective RIPK inhibitors as anti-inflammatory therapeutics for various chronic inflammatory conditions.
Health outcomes of young children born to mothers who received 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccination during pregnancy: retrospective cohort study
01/07/2019

Pregnant women are considered to be at high risk for serious illness due to influenza related mortality and morbidity documented during influenza pandemics and seasonal epidemics. No associations were observed between exposure to pH1N1 influenza vaccine during pregnancy and most five year pediatric health outcomes.