The Canadian Institutes of Health Research, CIHR, is the Government of Canada's health research funding agency. Currently CIHR does not fund any research in the areas of phage, bacteriophage and antibiotic therapies. However, CIHR's Institute of Infection and Immunity held a workshop in March 2005 that brought together experts from across Canada to discuss alternative methods to combat the problem of increasing antibiotic resistance.
The Public Health Agency of Canada, PHAC, has been conducting research on the potential use of bacteriophage therapy to control E.Coli 0157:H7 and salmonella bacteria in cattle, a natural animal reservoir of these important pathogenic microorganisms transmitted from animals to humans. The PHAC has contributed operating funds of $8,000 to this research.
The focus of research and surveillance is on the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance related to animal and human uses of antimicrobials. The agency collaborates with other federal and provincial partners to coordinate the Canadian integrated program on antimicrobial resistance surveillance, CIPARS. PHAC contributes approximately 1.27 million operating dollars yearly to this initiative. More information on CIPARS is available on the PHAC website at http:www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/cipars-picra/index.html
The agency does not conduct research related to the development of antibiotic therapy. However, the agency collaborates with federal partners and non-government organizations to respond to the emergence of antibiotic resistance in the health care setting. The agency contributes approximately $450,000 yearly to this initiative, of which $300,000 supports a service contract with the Canadian Committee on Antibiotic Resistance, CCAR.
The agency's microbiology laboratory provides support for existing surveillance programs related to antimicrobial resistance in nosocomial infections, human enteric pathogens, and Neisseria gonorrhea. The agency's microbiology laboratory also provides reference services to hospitals and provincial laboratories to aid in outbreak investigation. The agency contributes approximately $225,000 in yearly operating dollars to these initiatives.
The Government of Canada also recognizes the emerging health implications of overuse of antibiotics in both human and veterinary medicine and is taking a number of steps to address this important health issue.
Detailed information on Health Canada's antimicrobial resistance activities can be found on the Health Products and Food Branch, HPFB, Veterinary Drugs Directorate's, VDD, website at http//:www.hc-sc.gc.ca/vetdrugs-medsvet/amr_policy_dev_e.html