Every year, from Nov. 18 to Nov. 24, the World Health Organization (WHO) observes World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW), recognizing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as one of the greatest modern threats to global development and public health. AMR was responsible for 1.27 million deaths worldwide in 2019 alone.

McGill’s own AMR Centre works year-round to raise awareness about this pernicious phenomenon. Founded in 2021 by Dr. Dao Nguyen, with backing from bodies such as the McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity and McGill’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, the AMR Centre brings together McGill professors from over 20 different departments to find innovative, interdisciplinary research solutions to AMR. The centre specializes in academic work on AMR diagnostics, therapeutics, and prevention strategies. 

The support and funding from WAAW give the AMR Centre a particular opportunity to expand public understanding of AMR with the aim of reducing its emergence and spread. In an interview with The Tribune, McGill PhD Candidate in Microbiology & Immunology and AMR Centre Outreach Team co-lead Sophia Goldman explained what AMR is. According to her, basic knowledge of AMR is the first step in halting the public health crisis it creates.

“[AMR] occurs when microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi and even parasites make changes or adaptations over time to develop the ability to no longer [respond] to the drugs that are designed to kill them,” Goldman said. “In the big picture, this makes infections really hard to treat, and increases […] the spread of disease [….] [AMR] is mainly caused by the misuse and the overuse of antibiotics.”

AMR Centre Outreach Team co-lead and MSc student in Microbiology, Ashley McGibbon, described other factors contributing to AMR’s proliferation.

“Doctors and medical practitioners tend to prescribe antibiotics as the solution for everything, even though they’re only able to target bacterial infections,” McGibbon said in an interview with The Tribune. “[AMR is] also induced by the lack of investment by pharmaceutical companies […] into making new antimicrobials [….] Antibiotics are also used in a lot of agriculture [in soils, which] can promote [AMR’s development].”

Goldman outlined key solutions for preventing AMR on an individual basis: Taking antibiotics as prescribed and especially finishing them completely, keeping up with vaccination schedules to prevent infection, not sharing antibiotics or consuming expired ones, washing hands frequently, and staying home when sick.

McGibbon echoed the power of these independent choices in contributing to communal safety.

“Small actions add up,” she said. “If every person takes the time to make themself aware about this global health issue, it can inspire change and support responsible antimicrobial use, which will collectively help safeguard public health for generations to come.”

This week, the AMR Centre will be holding three public pop-up events to challenge pre-existing notions of AMR: On Nov. 18 at Macdonald Campus, and on Nov. 20 at the downtown campus’ Redpath Library, as well as at the McGill University Health Centre. The Centre will also host a scientific symposium on Nov. 19 exploring solutions to antimicrobial resistance, at the McGill Faculty Club from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 

On Nov. 21 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., Dr. Eric Nelson from the University of Florida will run a seminar at the Goodman Cancer Institute discussing AMR diagnostic developments. To round out the week on Nov. 24, the Centre will host an online student roundtable discussion on the WHO’s latest AMR reports from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Throughout Nov. 18 to 24, the AMR Centre will enter anyone who posts themselves wearing blue alongside the hashtag #GoBlueWithMcGill—in honour of the WHO’s AMR awareness “Go Blue Campaign”—into a raffle. In solidarity with WAAW, the McCall MacBain Arts Building will be lit in blue on Nov. 24. 

Goldman emphasized what she hopes the McGill community will most take away from the AMR Centre’s WAAW events.

“Everyone’s interaction and experience with antimicrobials can affect everyone else around them, within Canada and even worldwide,” she said. “Everyone […] doing their little part matters.”