Bruno Coignard is the head of the Infectious diseases division of Santé publique France
The Infectious diseases division of Santé publique France (the French national public health agency) coordinates national surveillance and alert activities in the field of infectious diseases, in order to guide prevention and control policies, and to reduce the burden of infectious diseases in the French population. The division monitors many infectious diseases that represent important public health issues:
– Sexually transmitted diseases, HIV and hepatitis;
– Vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization coverage;
– Respiratory infections (Influenza, Legionellosis, Tuberculosis, MERS-CoV, …);
– Zoonotic, vector-borne and foodborne infections;
– Healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance.
Besides routine surveillance activities, the priorities of the division are strongly dependent from ongoing outbreaks, epidemics or crises. The division provides up-to-date expertise, coordination and support in developing surveillance systems, investigating outbreaks and guiding control measures. It closely works with regional offices of Santé Publique France (CIRes) and many other national and regional partners, including a network of Infection control coordinating centres (for healthcare-associated infections), regional health authorities, healthcare facilities and laboratories.
The division maintains more than 70 different surveillance systems, including 31 notifiable infectious diseases and about 30 voluntary networks of healthcare professionals (clinicians, infection control practitioners, microbiologists, etc.). The division also funds, coordinates and relies on the microbiological expertise provided by a network of National Reference Laboratories (NRL). Last, it developed strong partnerships with national scientific societies and research institutes, including Institut Pasteur, and contributes to several applied research programs in its field, including the Labex IBEID.
