June 25, 2018 - Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing threat around the world, and it is estimated that by 2050, AMR will potentially cause more deaths globally than cancer does today1. In Canada, it is estimated that $1 billion dollars in medical care costs are associated with antimicrobial resistant infections2 and each year, 18,000 Canadians acquire drug-resistant infections in hospitals3.

In a step that furthers BD’s commitment to addressing the global threat of AMR, the company collaborated with more than a dozen biopharmaceutical and diagnostic companies in Canada and pledged to work alongside Canada’s Federal government and its partners, to achieve the goals set out in the Pan-Canadian Framework for Action in Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance and Antimicrobial Use.

The Canadian Declaration on Combatting Antimicrobial Resistance, which indicates specific areas of focus to deliver sustainable solutions in addressing AMR in Canada, was publicly released on June 8, 2018 at the G7 Summit in Charlevoix, Québec. The undersigned represent organizations that are engaged in researching and developing drugs, vaccines, medical devices, diagnostics and other healthcare products that address AMR.

As one of the largest global medical technology companies in the world, BD continues to invest in innovative technology, services and solutions - including a wide range of products used to prevent the spread of infection within healthcare facilities; diagnostic systems used to screen, test and determine the type of infection (including drug-resistant strains) and antimicrobial susceptibility; and state-of-the-art surveillance and reporting capabilities to monitor, track and predict AMR outbreaks - all of which help contribute to the containment of AMR. For additional information on AMR and our role in addressing this global concern, please visit: http://amr.bd.com/en-ca/.

BD is collaborating with several other entities to mobilize a new broad-based AMR public awareness and coalition-building campaign, under the theme I'm a resistance fighterTM. The Antimicrobial Resistance Fighter campaign highlights the roles and impact of health practitioners, professional associations, government leaders, nongovernment organizations, health agencies, advocacy groups and patients in combating AMR. It focuses on communicating the stories and impacts of organizations and clinicians that are combating AMR, and the testimony of patients and their families who have personally battled antimicrobial resistant infections. For more information or to join this global campaign, please visit: https://antimicrobialresistancefighters.org/

 

1. O'Neill, J. (2016). Tackling drug-resistant infections globally: Final report and recommendations. The Review on Antimicrobial Resistance, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public Licence.
2. Public Health Agency of Canada. Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System Report. 2015.
3. Office of the Auditor General of Canada. Report of the Auditor General of Canada — Spring 2015: Report 1: Antimicrobial Resistance. 2015.