Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (CARSS) 2017 Report
The following message is from Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Systems, Centre for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control, Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada
Dear CPHLN Members,
I am pleased to provide you with a copy of the Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (CARSS) – 2017 Report. The executive summary is now available on Canada.ca.
This year’s report provides a snapshot of 2015 and 2016 antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and use (AMU) data from the different Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) surveillance systems and its national laboratory reference services.
Although the overall level of AMR in Canada is similar or lower than rates reported by other developed countries, there are some areas of concern. Upward trends were seen in the rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus blood stream infection (BSI) in pediatric hospitals and the rate of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus BSI in adults. In addition, the rate of drug-resistant gonorrhea increased between the years 2014 and 2015. There also remain significant data gaps that prevent our ability to provide a comprehensive picture of the current situation and emerging risks of AMR in Canada. Strengthening the surveillance of AMR and AMU in humans and animals is a priority for PHAC and the yearly CARSS Report serves to highlight the attained progress and future steps in addressing these gaps.
I trust that you will find the CARSS- 2017 Report informative and useful. On behalf of PHAC and our many partners, I wish to express my thanks for the valuable contributions that you have made, and continue to make, toward improving our understanding of this significant threat to human and animal health.