Over the past decade, the partnership between Public Health Ontario and the Institute for Quality Management in Healthcare has helped turn antimicrobial resistance data into practical insights for safer care. The 2024 Antimicrobial Resistance in Common Hospital Pathogens in Ontario report marks ten years of collaboration focused on understanding risk and strengthening infection prevention practices across hospitals.
This year’s report summarizes the findings of the annual survey on antimicrobial resistance of common hospital pathogens from 2024. The survey also included questions regarding the consistency of infection prevention and control practices across hospital sites within the same corporation.
Key findings from the report:
- Compared to 2023, 2024 survey results showed no substantial changes in the overall incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin resistant enterococci, carbapenemase-producing organisms and Candida auris in Ontario.
- Among Gram-negative bacilli, resistance to 3rd-generation cephalosporins and ciprofloxacin among Klebsiella spp. increased over the past decade.
- More hospitals in Ontario implemented carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales and Candida auris screening programs in 2024.
- There is regional variation across the province among AROs. Additionally, infection control practices vary widely throughout hospitals in Ontario.
The report underscores a clear message. Consistent, province-wide surveillance is essential to understand the current resistance landscape and respond effectively. Identifying regional variation allows provincial leaders, hospitals, and laboratories to better target infection control policies, allocate resources, and strengthen prevention strategies where they are needed most.
After ten years, this partnership continues to demonstrate value of linking laboratory quality, public health intelligence, and front-line infection control practices. Shared data and learning, and coordinated action remain central to protecting patients and improving system readiness in the face of antimicrobial resistance.
Read the ARO 2024 report.