Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) refers to changes in infectious organisms (viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites) so that they can no longer be controlled or treated effectively by standard drugs such as antibiotics, antivirals and antifungals.
AMR is an increasingly serious threat to public health and NCCID is working with partners across the country to provide evidence and resources on AMR surveillance and antimicrobial use (AMU).
Antibiotic Awareness Week
Unnecessary use and misuse of antibiotics and other antimicrobials is increasing the serious problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Canada and around the world. Resistant microbes make infections much harder or impossible to treat. Antimicrobial Awareness Week (formerly Antibiotic Awareness Week), held November 18 – 24 every year, promotes informed, careful use of these life-saving medicines to help keep them working for future generations.
What’s New
Partnering with Community Pharmacists to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance
This case story, along with other stories of ‘joint action for equity’ in the Learning from Practice series, offers insights about how partnerships can begin, what helps them succeed, and where roles or systems can change to improve population health and health equity.
Combating Antimicrobial Resistance: Preserving antibiotics through community stewardship
In this presentation, we examine the successful interventions and outcomes from the Alberta and BC community antimicrobial stewardship programs. We finish with a discussion of next steps in making the case for other provincial community antimicrobial stewardship programs.
Sustaining a Voice for a Silent Public Health Crisis: World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022
Antimicrobial Awareness Week (formerly Antibiotic Awareness Week), November 18 – 24, promotes informed, careful use of these life-saving medicines to help keep them working for future generations.
Antimicrobial Resistance and the Social Sciences: A Narrative Review
This narrative review explores how social sciences research may contribute to our understanding of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antibiotic prescribing in human health and inform mitigation strategies. The review identifies over 80 examples of social sciences research related to AMR.
How to Properly Dispose of Medications Poster Series
This series of five posters outline the proper disposal techniques for unused, unwanted and expired medications. You can view and download the files below, or order free, physical copies!
Getting the Antimicrobial Message: Results from Canadian Public Opinion Research on Antibiotic Use and Antimicrobial Resistance
The Public Health Agency of Canada funded public opinion research to assess the Canadian public’s knowledge, attitudes and behaviours related to antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic use. This presentation examines these research findings and raises considerations for AMR awareness campaigns and stewardship work.
Resources
Viral Prescription Pads
Provides information about symptomatic relief for infections and indicates when patients should consider a return visit. To be used with patients (adults and children) who have a suspected viral infection.
Download below or order free copies of prescription pads, here.
Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance and Antimicrobial Utilization in Canada
REPORT
There have been important expansions within existing national surveillance programs (Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program and the Canadian Integrated Program for AMR Surveillance), with new data integration and reporting by the Canadian AMR Surveillance System. However, important gaps in the AMR/AMU surveillance “patchwork” in Canada must be addressed to make it a comprehensive, integrated, One Health program.
Our review highlights 3 crucial areas for action:
- development of a complete, integrated AMR/AMU surveillance program that builds on current success;
- changes in federal-provincial-territorial policies to compel standardized AMR/AMU reporting; and
- investment in AMR/AMU surveillance resources (dedicated personnel, funding, and enabling structures and policy).
Notable Publications
Events
Partnering with Community Pharmacists to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance
This case story, along with other stories of ‘joint action for equity’ in the Learning from Practice series, offers insights about how partnerships can begin, what helps them succeed, and where roles or systems can change to improve population health and health equity.
Combating Antimicrobial Resistance: Preserving antibiotics through community stewardship
In this presentation, we examine the successful interventions and outcomes from the Alberta and BC community antimicrobial stewardship programs. We finish with a discussion of next steps in making the case for other provincial community antimicrobial stewardship programs.
Sustaining a Voice for a Silent Public Health Crisis: World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022
Antimicrobial Awareness Week (formerly Antibiotic Awareness Week), November 18 – 24, promotes informed, careful use of these life-saving medicines to help keep them working for future generations.
Antimicrobial Resistance and the Social Sciences: A Narrative Review
This narrative review explores how social sciences research may contribute to our understanding of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antibiotic prescribing in human health and inform mitigation strategies. The review identifies over 80 examples of social sciences research related to AMR.
How to Properly Dispose of Medications Poster Series
This series of five posters outline the proper disposal techniques for unused, unwanted and expired medications. You can view and download the files below, or order free, physical copies!
Getting the Antimicrobial Message: Results from Canadian Public Opinion Research on Antibiotic Use and Antimicrobial Resistance
The Public Health Agency of Canada funded public opinion research to assess the Canadian public’s knowledge, attitudes and behaviours related to antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic use. This presentation examines these research findings and raises considerations for AMR awareness campaigns and stewardship work.