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. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/drugs-health-products/canadian-antimicrobial-resistance-surveillance-system-2017-report-executive-summary.html This year’s report provides a snapshot of 2015 and 2016 antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and...
Antibiotic-related News Stories and Journal Articles
In the past month, there has been lots of news related to antibiotics, antimicrobial resistance, and the hunt for new developments to replace antibiotics. Here is a selection of news stories and journal articles you may find interesting: What is a "phage wrangler"? The hunt for a bacteriophage to attack antibiotic-resistant Burkholderia cepacia. News "Molecular pencil sharpener" releases antibiotic. News | Journal Boosting antibiotic potency with light: intracellular light-activated quantum dots (QDs) News...
Antibiotic Awareness Week: Resources
Antibiotics Awareness Week is Nov 13-19, 2017, and below are many resources you can use: The WHO has lots of great resources including posters, animated gifs, videos, articles, facts sheets, a quiz, and more...
New study: Nursing home staff often fail to change gloves
From Infection Control Today: The failure to change gloves is common among certified nursing assistants, and may be a significant cause of the spread of dangerous pathogens in nursing homes and long-term health-care settings, according to a new study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Infection Control. Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) are often the main providers of care in long-term care facilities (LTCFs), with significant patient...
Antibiotic-resistant genes are being spread via animal feed
Excerpted from The Independent: Antibiotic-resistant genes are being spread around the world in animal feed, according to new research that adds to fears humanity could lose one of our most important medicines. A UK government-commissioned report last year estimated 10 million people a year could die worldwide by 2050 because of the rise of ‘superbugs’, prompting the then Prime Minister David Cameron to announce a crackdown on over-prescribing by GPs and lead...
Researchers use antibiotics combo to kill first strain of highly resistant E. coli
Excerpted from Infection Control Today: The recent discovery of E. coli carrying mcr-1 and ndm-5 — genes that make the bacterium immune to last-resort antibiotics — has left clinicians without an effective means of treatment for this bacterium. But in a new study, University at Buffalo researchers have assembled a team of three antibiotics that, together, are capable of eradicating the deadly bacterium. The groundbreaking research was recently published in mBio,...
Mosquitoes capable of carrying Zika virus may have colony in Ontario
The insects tested negative for both the Zika and West Nile virus Species can carry Dengue fever From CBC.ca: A mosquito species capable of transmitting the Zika virus and other tropical diseases may have established a colony in southwestern Ontario, a development that could mean changes for Canadian health-care providers. Two adult Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, also known as the Asian tiger mosquito, were recently trapped in Windsor-Essex, following the 17 found last year, according to the...