PICNET NEWSLETTER – NOVEMBER 2024

November 18-24 is World Antimicrobial Awareness Week

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing public health concern that requires our collective action. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified AMR as one of the top global public health threats facing humanity. World Antimicrobial Awareness Week is a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness about AMR and promoting best practices to prevent the spread of drug-resistant infections in community settings and health-care facilities.

Your Role in Prevention

As we navigate the complexities of modern medicine, the role of health-care professionals in combating AMR has never been more critical. Daily interactions with patients, prescriptions, and infection control practices directly impact the spread and management of drug resistant infections.

Key actions to keep in mind to prevent the spread of resistant infections within health-care settings include:

• Prescribing responsibly;
• Educating patients on the importance of appropriate use of antimicrobials;
• Promoting staff, patient and visitor adherence to routine and appropriate infection control measures; and
• Staying informed on current best practices.

Celebrating our Progress

World Antimicrobial Awareness Week is not just a time to reflect on current challenges; it’s also an opportunity to celebrate the progress we have made and renew our commitment to this vital cause.

Let’s use this week to inspire action, share knowledge, and strengthen our resolve to combat antimicrobial resistance. Your dedication and expertise are essential in this global fight.

By working together, we can slow the spread of antimicrobial resistance and ensure that these life-saving medications remain effective for future generations. Together, we can make a difference.

AMR Resources

For more information, check out the following resources:

• WHO: Global action plan on antimicrobial resistance
• Public Health Agency of Canada: Pan-Canadian Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance
• PICNet: Antimicrobial Resistant Organisms
• BCCDC: Antibiotic Wise and Antimicrobial Stewardship for Healthcare Professionals

Farewell to Stephanie, PICNet’s Education and Practice Coordinator

It is with mixed emotions that we share the news that Stephanie Burniston, Education and Practice Coordinator with PICNet, departed PHSA on November 8^th, 2024.  We are extremely sad to see her go; however, we’re also elated to continue our partnership with Stephanie in her new position as Director, Population and Public Health Division at the BC Ministry of Health. 

Stephanie is a notable member of PICNet and instrumental in the team’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She guided numerous discussions and decision-making processes with multidisciplinary experts to revise or create new provincial IPC guidance for high-threat pathogens in collaboration with BCCDC and the health authorities. Click here for more details about Stephanie’s legacy with PICNet.

We are recruiting an Education and Practice Coordinator and will share more information soon.

Provincial IPC & Planetary Health Interest Group – Call Out for Members

PICNet is creating a provincial IPC and planetary health interest group. If you are interested in participating and offering insights to this collaborative led by Dr. Titus Wong and Dr. Victor Leung, please email picnet@phsa.ca.

Carbapenemase-Producing Organism (CPO) Symposium

On October 23^rd, 2024, PICNet hosted a Provincial CPO Symposium. The event engaged health-care professionals from across the province to share insights and address objectives related to CPO surveillance and management, and collaboratively inform the development of CPO guidelines. Attendees had an opportunity to hear from experts about the role genomics can play in CPO cluster investigations and learn about Fraser Health’s point prevalence in long-term care pilot project.

Important decisions and agreements were identified during the session and several actions are underway.

PICNet’s Quarterly Surveillance Reports

PICNet’s public-facing quarterly surveillance report for Q4 of 2023/24, featuring data on CDI, MRSA, CPO, and hand cleaning compliance, is available.

Updated Respiratory Illness Dashboard for 2023/24 Season
The Respiratory Illness Dashboard is an internal report for health authority infection prevention partners, providing facility-based syndromic surveillance of respiratory illness among ED visits. Enhancements to the dashboard are live. They include refined age calculations for more precise trends (particularly in the <1 year age group), and they limit ED visits to one per patient per day to reduce duplicates and improve data linkage. Later in November, the dashboard will add counts and proportions of syndromic ED visits testing positive for RSV, COVID-19, and Influenza A/B.

If you desire access to the dashboard, please ask your leader to email picnet@phsa.ca with a user request.