Control of antimicrobial resistance in Canada: any lessons to learn?

The Public Health Agency of Canada supports a reference laboratory for diagnosis and characterization of selected resistant strains, targeted surveillance programs which monitor resistance trends for selected animal and human organisms, development of national infection control guidelines including for antimicrobial resistant organisms, and a few local pilot projects to address community acquired MRSA. Sporadic programs of variable intensity and quality are supported by some provinces, health regions and individual facilities but these are not comprehensive, standardized or integrated. Individual researchers and research groups, however, have published substantial information describing the prevalence and impact of resistance in Canada.Current review of activities by the Public Health Agency of Canada and initiatives by the National Coordinating Centre for Infectious Diseases may move the country forward in developing an effective national approach to address antimicrobial resistance.Over the past 15 years, the problem of antimicrobial resistance in Canada has been repeatedly discussed at national meetings, with recommendations developed to address this problem in the Canadian context. Some key documents from these meetings are:1. Consensus Conference: Controlling antimicrobial resistance: An integrated action plan for Canadians (1997) [1]. http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publications-eng.php#C webcite2. Uses of Antimicrobials in Food Animals in Canada: Impact on Resistance and Human Health. Report of the Advisory Committee on Resistance and Human Health (2002) [2]. http:/ / www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ dhp-mps/ pubs/ vet/ amr-ram_final_report-rapport_06-27c p-pc-eng.php webcite3. Proposed National Action plan to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance. Canadian Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance (2004).4. The Pan-Canadian Stakeholder Consultations on Antimicrobial Resistance, Canadian Committee on Antibiotic Resistance (2009).5. Consultation: Community acquired antimicrobial resistance,