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Overview
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and microscopic parasites – collectively referred to as “microbes” – change over time. When they change, they no longer respond to previously effective medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death.
AMR is a global health threat with serious implications for Albertans and our economy. Some medical interventions, such as organ transplantations, joint replacements and chemotherapy, become riskier as the antimicrobials used to prevent and treat infectious complications lose their effectiveness. Antimicrobials are also used to protect livestock and crop health, and AMR has serious implications for sustainable production in these industries.
Alberta’s One Health AMR Framework for Action provides a foundation for the ongoing work in Alberta to address the threat of AMR and to protect the availability and effectiveness of antimicrobials for future generations.
Resources
Framework pillars
The AMR framework is built around 3 pillars:
- stewardship
- surveillance
- infection prevention and control
Within each pillar, there is a key general objective, along with more specific areas for action that provide a focus for implementation planning. Present across all pillars are 2 themes – education and awareness, and research and innovation – that shape the implementation and contribute to success.
Core principles
The core principles the AMR framework is based on are:
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Mitigating riskAiming to minimize or control the threats AMR poses to our health, economy, and environment.
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Social goodActing to benefit the public interest of our communities and broader society while ensuring the needs of individuals continue to be met.
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CollaborationGovernment and AMR partners working together in the ongoing pursuit of our shared goals.
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Ongoing engagementCommunicating and consulting with AMR partners continually to determine actions and implement change.
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Incremental changePursuing gradual improvements over time that will collectively improve our ability to address AMR.
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Shared accountabilityRecognizing that responsibility in this common endeavor is shared by all AMR partners, including governments.
Vision
A future in which Alberta employs its collective resources to prevent and contain the threat of antimicrobial resistance.
Mission
Albertan’s will work collaboratively within and across sectors, and in alignment with federal efforts to take actions to mitigate the spread of AMR and promote the stewardship of antimicrobials in order to preserve their effectiveness, to protect the health of humans, animals and the environment.
Looking ahead
Alberta’s One Health Antimicrobial Resistance Framework for Action was developed through extensive stakeholder engagement and with the support of partners in the ministries of Health, Agriculture and Irrigation, and Environment and Protected Areas.
The AMR framework provides a blueprint to coordinate the activities of all stakeholders and partners, including government.
The AMR framework will be implemented through a phased approach. Capturing success and best practices from each phase of implementation, the Government of Alberta will continue to engage with partners and stakeholders to identify priority areas for action for implementation. This phased approach model will help us remain flexible to reflect new evidence, challenges or resources.
The Government of Alberta is committed to providing leadership, governance, direction, and funding for the work of AMR partners across Alberta as we tackle this challenge together.