AMR: Use in community settings, Canada

Community Sector

Antibiotic-resistant infections are increasingly common in the community setting.

Cases of multidrug-resistant gonorrhea increased by nearly 200% since 2013

• Previously used antibiotics are no longer effective

Rates of community-acquired Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection have doubled since 2014.

• Associated with high mortality

One in four Canadians reported taking antibiotics in the past year.

• One in 10 reported taking more than one antibiotic in the past year

Prescription rates are highest among Canadians aged 65 years and older.

In 2018, there were 24 million antibiotic prescriptions in Canada, representing $825M in drug costs.

• The most frequently prescribed antibiotic was amoxicillin

Since 2014, the proportion of otitis media diagnoses (middle ear infections) that resulted in an antimicrobial recommendation decreased by 16%.

Data are provided by the Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (CARSS), the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program (CNISP), the Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Program (GASP), and IQVIA (CSC/CDH). Based on the most recent data available in 2019.