In Canada and across the world, microbes that cause infections are becoming increasingly resistant to the drugs designed to treat them - this is known as antimicrobial resistance (AMR). While AMR can happen naturally, the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials are accelerating its development and spread.
That is why today, the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Heath, announced funding of up to $843,225 over three years to support the development and dissemination of national antimicrobial prescribing guidelines for 25 different syndromes in humans. These guidelines would help optimize prescribing practices and reduce unnecessary or inappropriate use of antimicrobials in Canada, which is one of the key drivers of AMR.
The Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada (AMMI Canada) will develop the new guidelines and Firstline, a Canadian technology platform, will disseminate the guidelines to health care providers at the point-of-care through a digital platform. Members of AMMI Canada and Firstline were instrumental in the creation and distribution of the World Health Organization's (WHO) AWaRe antibiotic book, an evidence-based antimicrobial prescribing guidance document.
This investment is an important step forward in the work of the Pan-Canadian Action Plan (PCAP) on Antimicrobial Resistance, which was released in collaboration with provinces and territories on June 2023. The federal government will continue to build on this collaborative work with provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous people, industry stakeholders, and with partners across One Health sectors. Continued collaboration will facilitate the implementation of the Action Plan's 10 shared priorities and will help preserve the effectiveness of these important drugs and to improve health outcomes for everyone.
