Event Details

Shigella is a leading cause of acute gastrointestinal infection and a growing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) concern in Canada. Reported shigellosis rates have continued to rise in Ontario, while resistance to commonly used antibiotics has reshaped the clinical and public health response. This PHO Rounds will provide an overview of more than a decade of provincial Shigella surveillance, it will draw on integrated case and laboratory data to examine how the epidemiology and resistance landscape have evolved across pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods. We highlight species-level shifts, demographic and geographic patterns, and the combined influence of international travel and locally sustained transmission on resistance dynamics. Finally, we will discuss the implications of these findings for empirical treatment, laboratory practices, AMR surveillance, and the key risk factors.

Intended Audience: 

By the end of this event, participants will be able to:

•  Describe temporal trends in Shigella incidence and species distribution in Ontario, including pandemic-related disruptions.
• Interpret shifts in antimicrobial resistance patterns across pre-pandemic, pandemic and post-pandemic periods.
• Assess the influence of COVID-19 related disruptions, international travel, and locally sustained transmission on Shigella species, transmission and resistance dynamics.
• Apply surveillance findings to inform public health practice and AMR response in Ontario.

Dr. Antoine Corbeil, MD is a Medical Microbiologist at PHO. He leads the parasitology, enteric bacteriology, point-of-care testing, and laboratory medical education portfolios.

Dr. Venkata R. Duvvuri, PhD, MSc, MPH is a Scientist at Public Health Ontario (PHO) and an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. His research addresses infectious diseases, surveillance, genomic epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, and public health. He applies advanced modelling and analytics, such as phylodynamics and machine learning, to study outbreak investigations, surveillance design, and strengthen public health decision-making and policy.

The opinions expressed by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies or views of Public Health Ontario, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by Public Health Ontario.

Public Health Ontario Rounds are a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).

Other colleges, including the College of Family Physicians of Canada, Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario and the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors, may accept RCPSC accredited events on a per-hour basis. Please contact your relevant college should you have any questions.

In order to receive written documentation for Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits, please check "Yes" beside the question "Do you require CME credits?" on the registration form.

For more information or for a record of registration for other Continuing Education purposes, please contact capacitybuilding@oahpp.ca.

Public Health Ontario is committed to complying with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodations to participate in this event, please contact 647-260-7100 or capacitybuilding@oahpp.ca.