Antimicrobial resistance: For health professionals

How health professionals and healthcare providers can reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance.

On this page

• Reducing the spread of antimicrobial resistance
• Information for healthcare providers

Reducing the spread of antimicrobial resistance

Strategies to prevent the transmission of antimicrobial-resistant organisms are critical to reduce the impact of antimicrobial resistance. In healthcare settings, infection prevention and control (IPC) measures can prevent and reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant organisms. This helps reduce the demand for antimicrobials and therefore, reduce antimicrobial resistance.

Using an antimicrobial stewardship approach can also foster increased understanding of the importance and implementation of appropriate antimicrobial use. Stewardship approaches include interventions like:

• education
• awareness campaigns
• guideline development

Such approaches help to preserve antimicrobial effectiveness while promoting and protecting human and animal health.

Coordinating stewardship and IPC interventions can improve the appropriate use of antimicrobials and reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance.

Learn more:

• Antimicrobial resistance: Awareness resources
• AMMI Canada: Canadian Antibiotic Treatment Guidance
• Pilot project to make more antimicrobials available in Canada

Information for healthcare providers

Healthcare providers play a vital role in supporting appropriate use of antimicrobials. These supports include:

• talking with patients, specifically for key populations, about:
  • antimicrobials
  • different pathogens
  • the risk of resistance
  • prevention measures
• helping to reduce antimicrobial resistance through appropriate prescribing practices, based on guidelines and standards for:
  • antimicrobial choice
  • dosage
  • route
  • duration
• IPC measures in healthcare settings to help reduce the spread of germs, also known as routine practices and additional precautions
• hand hygiene measures as one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of communicable diseases and infections in healthcare settings

Healthcare providers should continue to follow provincial, territorial or local guidance.

Learn more:

• Canada's priority antimicrobial-resistant pathogens
• Poster: What you should know about antimicrobial medications like antibiotics
• Reserve list for antimicrobial drugs
• Preserving antibiotics now and into the future
• Routine Practices and Additional Precautions for Preventing the Transmission of Infection in Healthcare Settings
• Hand Hygiene Practices in Healthcare Settings (PDF, 2.2 MB)

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