Public Health Ontario (PHO), in collaboration with the Institute for Quality Management in Healthcare (IQMH), has released the Antimicrobial Resistance in Common Hospital Pathogens in Ontario: Annual Laboratory and Hospital Survey Report 2023. This comprehensive report provides critical insights into the prevalence and control measures of antimicrobial-resistant organisms (AROs) within Ontario's health care facilities.

Key Findings

• Compared to 2022, 2023 results showed no substantial changes to overall incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), and Clostridioides difficile infections (C. difficile, CDI) in Ontario.
• Carbapenemase-producing organism incidence nearly doubled between 2022 and 2023.
• Gram-negative bacilli, including Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Klebsiella spp., showed increasing resistance in 2023.
• There is regional variation across the province among pathogens. Additionally, infection control practices vary widely throughout hospitals in Ontario.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced infection prevention and control practices (IPAC), with some disruptions noted in screening and management protocols for health care-associated infections. Encouragingly, most facilities have reported a return to standard precautions as pandemic pressures have eased.

Implications for Health Care

The sustained prevalence of AROs, coupled with the emergence of pathogens like C. auris, emphasizes the critical need for robust IPAC programs. Health care facilities are encouraged to enhance their surveillance systems, ensuring timely detection and response to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threats.

Strengthening collaborations between public health entities, infection control teams, and laboratories is paramount. Such partnerships facilitate the development of targeted antimicrobial stewardship programs and inform policy decisions aimed at mitigating the spread of resistant pathogens.

As AMR continues to pose a significant challenge to patient safety and public health, the insights from this report serve as a valuable resource for health care professionals and policymakers dedicated to combating this pressing issue.

Visit Public Health Ontario's website to access to the full report.