On February 12, we teamed up with our friends at Science World and Antibiotic Wise for a fun and free event entitled Resistance: Addressing the threat of drug-resistant infections. To kick off the evening, we screened the film Resistance, which looks at one of the most revolutionary discoveries of the 20th century—antibiotics—and how we’re well on our way to squandering their power.
The film uses firsthand accounts of those who have experienced antibiotic resistant infections and the devastation they can wreak on an individual and family, plus expert interviews, to show us how we’ve gotten here.
The takeaway: while the situation is serious, we are not doomed. Yet.
After the film, we had three experts in the field of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), Drs David Patrick, Bob Hancock, and Victor Leung, led us through a question and answer period highlighting what individuals can do in their lives to fight against growing antibiotic resistance, what new technologies and resources are in development to help combat resistance, and what Canada is doing—and must begin to do—to turn the tide.
Healthcare providers and leaders have been waking up to AMR and how serious it is for our population. Antibiotic prescribing in Canada is decreasing, and as we heard from Dr Leung, rapid testing exists in hospital settings to determine exactly what pathogen might be causing an infection, allowing doctors to treat it appropriately. But personal protection is also important.
A huge thanks again to our wonderful partners, Science World and Antibiotic Wise, for supporting this important work.
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