An alarming health concern is steadily on the rise: antimicrobial resistance (AMR), commonly known as ‘superbugs.’ These resilient infections resist common treatment methods and pose a severe health threat globally. According to Dr. Victor Leung, the Physician Lead for the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program and the Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Providence Health Care, the crisis of antibiotic-resistant microbes is happening right now.
Every year, thousands even in Canada alone, face the harsh reality of infections that elude antibiotics. AMR refers to the situation where bacteria, fungus, parasites, or viruses shrug off the therapeutic effects of medications. Standard treatments for simple surgeries or childbirth-related infections could take a downturn if antibiotics fail to work. ‘The infections we used to treat effortlessly have now turned stubborn and, in many cases, fatal’, says Dr. Leung.
Travel plays a significant role in compounding the problem. Germs travel across borders as easily as humans do. Monstrously resilient bacteria may unknowingly hitch a ride with a carrier. When such an individual enters a hospital environment, the microbes can easily spread among patients. Diagnosing the source of this stubborn infection and finding the most effective treatment method becomes a challenge.
AMR doesn’t just affect patient welfare within hospital confines but also disrupts the entire continuum of care. Patients could acquire AMR infections from their community setting. The situation is direr in Canada with a limmited variety of treatment options since some newer medications are only available in other countries.
Providence Health Care, nonetheless, has been a leading beacon in this fight against antibiotic resistance. It began the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) in 2013 to guide healthcare professionals wisely prescribe antibiotics. The program’s mainstay is the principle of optimizing infection treatment while safeguarding future effectiveness of antibiotics. The strategies implemented have become part of standard practice across Canada and even globally, with promising results.
The ASP, in collaboration with Firstline app, offers point of care treatment guidelines. It aids healthcare professionals in making astute decisions regarding the necessity of antibiotics, the most suitable drug, and the right time to halt treatment. This app is now globally endorsed and utilized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and various health networks and hospitals worldwide.
Recently, Dr. Leung navigated legislative waters in Ottawa, drawing attention to the looming threat of AMR. Canada is at the forefront of G7 health discussions this year, with AMR being a top-priority agenda. Dr. Leung expressed his support for the Pan-Canadian Framework for AMR, launched in 2022. The plan seeks well-fledged strategies, funding, and a cohesive ‘One Health’ outlook that acknowledges the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.
The swift action, policy changes, disease tracking, and funding outlined in this plan can bring about real change, and G7 health leadership and robust surveillance give Canada a helping hand. Dr. Leung stressed the need for easy access to vaccines and novel treatments, enhanced stewardship support, and efficient hospital-targeted policies. ‘To tackle antimicrobial resistance, prevention is our best bet’, says Dr. Leung.
In his recent attendance as a witness at the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Science and Research, Dr. Leung emphasized the need for smarter antibiotic usage. His motto isn’t about curtailing antibiotic use but prescribing the precise drug for the correct duration and reason. Taking action and creating awareness, like the World Antibiotic Awareness Week from November 18 to 24, is the route to combat the surreptitious threat of antibiotic resistance.