The Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS) was developed in response to recommendations of the 2002 Health Canada Advisory Committee on Animal Uses of Antimicrobials and Impact on Resistance and Human Health. CIPARS was modeled after several initiatives already underway in the United States and Europe. This program is providing an ongoing, permanent, national surveillance system to monitor antimicrobial resistance trends among selected enteric organisms from humans, animals and animal-derived food sources across Canada. In addition to the antimicrobial resistance surveillance data from human and animal sources the program also monitors antimicrobial use. The on farm component of this program is a recent initiative. Collection of this information is crucial to the development and evaluation of prudent-use policies and other risk management strategies.
The release of information from CIPARS is now proceeding under the auspices of the Public Health Agency of Canada. In the first few years of data collection the main goal has been to establish a baseline of what seems to be more normal out there in the healthy animal population. The abattoir surveillance component involves the collection and analysis of isolates of generic Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella from the intestinal (caecal) contents of healthy animals at slaughter across Canada. The retail surveillance component involves the collection and analysis of isolates of generic E. coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter from retail meat. These active agri-food surveillance activities provide an indirect measure of potential human exposure to resistance arising from the consumption of animal products.
Rebecca Irwin works for the Public Health Agency Of Canada. Irwin points out "One of the critical pieces for us is collecting the drug use information which is why we are looking at more of an on farm component where we would be collecting both samples for resistance testing as well as information on how the producers are collecting drug use information and how we might report that.One of the most important things we want to promote is the prudent use of antibiotics so that we can keep these very valuable drugs available for animal health and human health."
The information generated by this monitoring will be used by Health Canada’s Veterinary Drug Directorate which is responsible for the licensing of animal medications. The information that will be generated will also be used by other groups in assessing the effectiveness of current prudent use guidelines.