Guest lecture

Question 1

What was AMRs cost to Canada’s healthcare system in 2018?

Answer 1

$1.4 billion

Question 2

[…] of antimicrobials are sold for use in animal agriculture.

Answer 2

80%

Question 3

If AMR is not addressed, an estimated […] would die each year when resistance approaches […].

Answer 3

If AMR is not addressed, an estimated 13,000 Canadians would die each year when resistance approaches 40%.

Question 4

Discern between antimicrobials and antibiotics.

Answer 4

Antimicrobial→ any substance of natural, semisynthetic or synthetic origin that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms but causes little or no damage to the host.
Antibiotic → A type of substance active against bacteria or a drug used to treat bacterial infections.

All antibiotics are antimicrobials, but not all antimicrobials are antibiotics.

Question 5

How do bacteria resist antibiotics? [4]

Answer 5

1. Limiting uptake of a drug
2. Modifying a drug target
3. Inactivating a drug
4. Active drug efflux

Question 6

How does AMR move?

Answer 6

• The resistant organism itself can move
• Horizontal gene transfer may occur

Question 7

What is the purpose of Kirby Bauer Disk Diffusion Assay.

Answer 7

• Determines AMR phenotype of a bacterial isolate
• Disks contain antimicrobial of interest
• Diameter of the zone of inhibition determines resistance or susceptibility

Question 8

Temporal analysis suggests that antimicrobial resistance may be increasing in Australia. Where is prevalence of resistance most common?

Answer 8

Pork products
C. coli

Low levels of AMR in Campylobacter spp.

Question 9

In Canada, it is estimated that […] of bacterial infections are resistant to at least one antimicrobial.

Answer 9

In Canada, it is estimated that >25% of bacterial infections are resistant to at least one antimicrobial.

Question 10

What is CIPARS?

Answer 10

• Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance
• Identifies trends in antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance in Canadian food chain

Question 11

What are 6 causes of antibiotic resistance?

Answer 11

• Over-prescribing antibiotics
• Poor infection control in hospitals and clinics
• Patients not finishing their treatments
• Lack of hygiene and poor sanitation
• Over-use of antibiotics in livestock and aquaculture
• Lack of new antibiotics being developed