War on drug resistance: Policy interventions to tackle antibiotic misuse in Canada

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing threat in Canada with profound implications for public health and wellbeing. Widespread misuse of antibiotics has led to increasing numbers of drug-resistant “superbugs” capable of causing serious and potentially untreatable infections. Addressing antibiotic misuse is crucial in order to curb antimicrobial resistance, but there is a lack of coordinated policy action across the country. Furthermore, research on the predictors of antibiotic misuse in Canada is sparse, which hinders policy makers’ ability to develop targeted interventions. This study analyzes national survey data to shed light on the extent of antibiotic misuse in Canada, including uncovering socio-demographic predictors of public misuse. The findings are used to inform proposed policy recommendations that aim to reduce antibiotic misuse in order to better position Canada to tackle antimicrobial resistance in the years ahead.