Infection Prevention and Control

This website contains reports on premises where an infection prevention and control lapse was identified through the assessment of a complaint or referral, or through communicable disease surveillance. It does not include reports of premises which were investigated following a complaint or referral where no infection prevention and control lapse was ultimately identified.

These reports are not exhaustive, and do not guarantee that those premises listed and not listed are free of infection prevention and control lapses Identification of lapses is based on assessment and investigation of premises at a point-in-time, and these assessments and investigations are triggered when potential infection prevention and control lapses are brought to the attention of the local medical officer of health.  

Reports are posted on the website of the board of health in which the premises are located. Reports are posted on a premises-by-premises basis, i.e., will correspond with one site only. Should you wish to view a full investigation report for any posted lapse, please contact Ottawa Public Health at 580-6744.  

An IPAC lapse occurs when a best practice is not followed and as a result, there is a risk of infection to clients.

Best practices for IPAC are set by:

  • Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee (PIDAC),
  • Public Health Ontario (PHO), and
  • Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC)

An example of a best practice is proper cleaning and sterilization of re-usable medical equipment. When there is a lapse in a cleaning process, the risk of a client being infected goes up. This can be due to exposure to other people's blood or body fluids.

Best practices for infection prevention and control (IPAC) keep clients safe. An IPAC lapse occurs when a best practice is not followed and there is a risk of infectious disease to clients.

The following sites had IPAC lapses within the last two years:

By law, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) investigates infection prevention and control (IPAC) complaints in healthcare settings. OPH is not required to routinely assess IPAC in healthcare settings. Healthcare professionals like physicians, nurses and dentists are regulated by professional colleges. These colleges make sure that IPAC best practices are followed.

Unlike for healthcare settings, OPH routinely and regularly inspects businesses that offer:

  • Tattooing,
  • Body and ear piercing,
  • Manicures,
  • Pedicures,
  • Hairdressing/barbering,
  • Permanent makeup,
  • Spa treatments,
  • Hair removal,
  • Facials.

View the routine inspection reports.(*insert new hyperlink)

If you have a concern about IPAC, please connect with OPH.

OPH starts an investigation within 24 hours of receiving a complaint. This investigation will show if an IPAC lapse has occurred. OPH may require the healthcare site to make changes to protect the public’s health. This investigation will also outline what actions need to happen to restore IPAC best practices.

When an investigation shows that an IPAC lapse occurred, OPH is required to post a report of this lapse on its website.

If an IPAC lapse involves a healthcare professional, OPH notifies the appropriate regulatory college. Regulatory colleges are responsible for licensing healthcare professionals such as doctors, dentists, and nurses to practice medicine, dentistry, and nursing. 

The reports posted on this website and on the website of the Board of Health are summaries. To view a full investigation report, you must submit a formal request for information.  

As per the MOHLTC’s Infection Prevention and Control Disclosure Protocol, 2019, all final reports are posted on our website for two years. After two years, the reports are archived by Ottawa Public Health and are no longer accessible on the web.

Important: to report an immediate hazard to people or property, call 3-1-1. 

Submit a complaint about a facility

OR Call 613-580-6744 to speak with a public health inspector during regular business hours, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm or 613-580-2424 or 3-1-1 after hours.

If you would like further information regarding these investigations please contact Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744 or at healthsante@ottawa.ca.  

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