What is it?
The Canadian Government created the Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System, or CARSS, in response to the growing global concern about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) [1]. The first CARSS report was issued in March 2015.
CARSS monitors antimicrobial use (AMU) and AMR in Canada by integrating data from various surveillance systems, including CIPARS [1]. The objective of CARSS is to inform AMU and AMR research and policy.
CARSS tracks information in 4 main areas:
- AMU in humans,
- AMU in animals,
- AMR in human healthcare and communities,
- AMR in food production animals.
How Does it Prevent AMR?
CARSS provides an integrated view of AMU and AMR in Canada on a national level. This can be used to detect changes in trends over time and improve our knowledge of the issue [2]. CARSS also allows us to take a multi-sectoral approach to address AMR, allowing for the complex issue to be addressed from multiple angles.
Further Reading
Research Gaps
Product/Service Gaps
References
[1] Government of Canada, ‘AMU and AMR in Canada: 2014’, Jan. 31, 2017. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/canada-communicable-disease-report-ccdr/monthly-issue/2016-42/ccdr-volume-42-11-november-3-2016/ccdr-volume-42-11-november-3-2016-antimicrobial-resistance-1.html (accessed Aug. 22, 2022).
[2] Public Health Agency of Canada, ‘Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System Report 2021’, Apr. 25, 2022. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/drugs-health-products/canadian-antimicrobial-resistance-surveillance-system-report-2021.html (accessed Aug. 22, 2022).
