Antibiotics Research in Canada

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 13405

Special Issue Editors

Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Interests: metal based antimicrobials; resistance mechanisms; biofilms; antimicrobial properties; bioremediation; metal nanomaterials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Microbiologie Médecine FRQS Chercheur Boursier Mérite Exceptionnel, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, QC G1K 7P4, Canada
Interests: antimicrobial Resistance; antimicrobial evolution, novel compounds; bacteriophages; microbial and insect OMICS; 3D-Bioprinting; enteropathogens and drug resistance in waste water; universal vaccines

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We would like to invite you to contribute a manuscript to a Special Issue focusing on Canadian Research efforts in the area of Antibiotics. As Canadian researchers, we are part of a strong history of contributions to the field of novel antibiotic developments and studying the resistance/tolerance/sensitivity processes. Canadian research in this area is broad, ranging from an academic interest in fundamental microbiology to the development of novel antimicrobials and bench-to-bed clinical research. With the understanding of antibiotic misuse in medicine and various industries, we all recognize that we are entering the post-antibiotic era and are well within the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) era. The Antimicrobial Resistance initiative from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research within the Infection and Immunity Institute, international Joint initiatives, and our National Laboratory have provided many Canadian scientists with the ability to conduct novel and internationally competitive work. Recent cross-Canada projects considering a One Health approach to prevent or reduce the development and transmission of AMR are helping direct public outreach education and policies.

Through this Special Edition, we have the opportunity to highlight, in a collective package, the strength of Canadian research in this area.

Prof. Dr. Raymond J. Turner
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Antibiotics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Antibiotics
  • Antimicrobial Resistance Genes
  • ARG
  • Antimicrobial resistance
  • AMR
  • Bacterial multidrug resistance transporters
  • Biofilm Antibiotic resistance
  • Antimicrobial polymers
  • Non-traditional antibiotics

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 7140 KiB  
Article
Antibacterial, Antibiofilm, and Antioxidant Activity of 15 Different Plant-Based Natural Compounds in Comparison with Ciprofloxacin and Gentamicin
by Ali Pormohammad, Dave Hansen and Raymond J. Turner
Antibiotics 2022, 11(8), 1099; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/antibiotics11081099 - 12 Aug 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2425
Abstract
Plant-based natural compounds (PBCs) are comparatively explored in this study to identify the most effective and safe antibacterial agent/s against six World Health Organization concern pathogens. Based on a contained systematic review, 11 of the most potent PBCs as antibacterial agents are included [...] Read more.
Plant-based natural compounds (PBCs) are comparatively explored in this study to identify the most effective and safe antibacterial agent/s against six World Health Organization concern pathogens. Based on a contained systematic review, 11 of the most potent PBCs as antibacterial agents are included in this study. The antibacterial and antibiofilm efficacy of the included PBCs are compared with each other as well as common antibiotics (ciprofloxacin and gentamicin). The whole plants of two different strains of Cannabis sativa are extracted to compare the results with sourced ultrapure components. Out of 15 PBCs, tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, cinnamaldehyde, and carvacrol show promising antibacterial and antibiofilm efficacy. The most common antibacterial mechanisms are explored, and all of our selected PBCs utilize the same pathway for their antibacterial effects. They mostly target the bacterial cell membrane in the initial step rather than the other mechanisms. Reactive oxygen species production and targeting [Fe-S] centres in the respiratory enzymes are not found to be significant, which could be part of the explanation as to why they are not toxic to eukaryotic cells. Toxicity and antioxidant tests show that they are not only nontoxic but also have antioxidant properties in Caenorhabditis elegans as an animal model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotics Research in Canada)
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12 pages, 400 KiB  
Article
Appropriateness of Outpatient Antibiotic Use in Seniors across Two Canadian Provinces
by Ariana Saatchi, Jennifer N. Reid, Marcus Povitz, Salimah Z. Shariff, Michael Silverman, Andrew M. Morris, Romina C. Reyes, David M. Patrick and Fawziah Marra
Antibiotics 2021, 10(12), 1484; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/antibiotics10121484 - 03 Dec 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2398
Abstract
Antimicrobials are among the most prescribed medications in Canada, with over 90% of antibiotics prescribed in outpatient settings. Seniors prescribed antimicrobials are particularly vulnerable to adverse drug events and antimicrobial resistance. The extent of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in outpatient Canadian medical practice, and [...] Read more.
Antimicrobials are among the most prescribed medications in Canada, with over 90% of antibiotics prescribed in outpatient settings. Seniors prescribed antimicrobials are particularly vulnerable to adverse drug events and antimicrobial resistance. The extent of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in outpatient Canadian medical practice, and the potential long-term trends in this practice, are unknown. This study is the first in Canada to examine prescribing quality across two large-scale provincial healthcare systems to compare both quantity and quality of outpatient antibiotic use in seniors. Population-based analyses using administrative health databases were conducted in British Columbia (BC) and Ontario (ON), and all outpatient, oral antimicrobials dispensed to seniors (≥65 years) from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2018 were identified. Antimicrobials were linked to an indication using a 3-tiered hierarchy. Tier 1 indications, which always require antibiotics, were given priority, followed by Tier 2 indications that sometimes require antibiotics, then Tier 3, which never require antibiotics. Prescription rates were calculated per 1000 population, and trends were examined overall, by drug class, and by patient demographics. Prescribing remained steady in both provinces, with 11,166,401 prescriptions dispensed overall in BC, and 27,656,014 overall in ON. BC prescribed at slightly elevated rates (range: 790 to 930 per 1000 residents), in comparison to ON (range: 745 to 785 per 1000 residents), throughout the study period. For both provinces, a Tier 3 diagnosis was the most common reason for antibiotic use, accounting for 50% of all indication-associated antibiotic prescribing. Although Tier 3 indications remained the most prescribed-for diagnoses throughout the study period, a declining trend over time is encouraging, with much room for improvement remaining. Elevated prescribing to seniors continues across Canadian outpatient settings, and prescribing quality is of high concern, with 50% of all antimicrobials prescribed inappropriately for common infections that do not require antimicrobials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotics Research in Canada)
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12 pages, 711 KiB  
Article
Quantifying the Gap between Expected and Actual Rates of Antibiotic Prescribing in British Columbia, Canada
by Ariana Saatchi, Ji-Won Yoo, Kevin L. Schwartz, Michael Silverman, Andrew M. Morris, David M. Patrick, James McCormack and Fawziah Marra
Antibiotics 2021, 10(11), 1428; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/antibiotics10111428 - 22 Nov 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2233
Abstract
Despite decades of stewardship efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance and quantify changes in use, the quality of antibiotic use in British Columbia (BC) remains unknown. As the overuse and misuse of antibiotics drives antibiotic resistance, it is imperative to expand surveillance efforts to [...] Read more.
Despite decades of stewardship efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance and quantify changes in use, the quality of antibiotic use in British Columbia (BC) remains unknown. As the overuse and misuse of antibiotics drives antibiotic resistance, it is imperative to expand surveillance efforts to examine the quality of antibiotic prescriptions. In late 2019, Canadian expected rates of antibiotic prescribing were developed for common infections. These rates were utilized to quantify the gap between the observed rates of prescribing and Canadian expected rates for antibiotic use for the province of BC. The prescribing data were extracted and matched to physician billing systems using anonymized patient identifiers from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2018. Outpatient prescribing was further subdivided into community and emergency department settings and stratified by the following age groups: <2 years, 2–18 years, and ≥19 years. The proportions of physician visits that received antibiotic prescription were compared against the Canadian expected rates to quantify the unnecessary use for 18 common indications. Respiratory tract infections (RTI), including acute bronchitis, acute sinusitis, and acute pharyngitis, reported significant levels of overprescribing. Across all ages and health care settings, prescribing for RTI indications occurred at rates 2–8 times higher than the expected rates recommended by a group of expert Canadian physicians. Understanding the magnitude of unnecessary prescribing is a first step in delineating the provincial prescribing quality. The quantification of antibiotic overuse offers concrete targets for provincial stewardship efforts to reduce unnecessary prescribing by an average of 30% across both outpatient and emergency care settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotics Research in Canada)
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14 pages, 3913 KiB  
Article
Piglet Gut and in-Barn Manure from Farms on a Raised without Antibiotics Program Display Reduced Antimicrobial Resistance but an Increased Prevalence of Pathogens
by Samuel M. Chekabab, John R. Lawrence, Alvin C. Alvarado, Bernardo Z. Predicala and Darren R. Korber
Antibiotics 2021, 10(10), 1152; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/antibiotics10101152 - 24 Sep 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1976
Abstract
In response to new stringent regulations in Canada regarding the use of antibiotics in animal production, many farms have implemented practices to produce animals that are raised without antibiotics (RWA) from birth to slaughter. This study aims to assess the impact of RWA [...] Read more.
In response to new stringent regulations in Canada regarding the use of antibiotics in animal production, many farms have implemented practices to produce animals that are raised without antibiotics (RWA) from birth to slaughter. This study aims to assess the impact of RWA production practices on reducing the actual total on-farm use of antibiotics, the occurrence of pathogens, and the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). A 28-month longitudinal surveillance of farms that adopted the RWA program and conventional farms using antibiotics in accordance with the new regulations (non-RWA) was conducted by collecting fecal samples from 6-week-old pigs and composite manure from the barn over six time points and applying whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to assess the prevalence of AMR genes as well as the abundance of pathogens. Analysis of in-barn drug use records confirmed the decreased consumption of antibiotics in RWA barns compared to non-RWA barns. WGS analyses revealed that RWA barns had reduced the frequency of AMR genes in piglet feces and in-barn manure. However, metagenomic analyses showed that RWA barns had a significant increase in the frequency of pathogenic Firmicutes in fecal samples and pathogenic Proteobacteria in barn manure samples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotics Research in Canada)
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Review

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18 pages, 773 KiB  
Review
Aminoglycosides in the Intensive Care Unit: What Is New in Population PK Modeling?
by Alexandre Duong, Chantale Simard, Yi Le Wang, David Williamson and Amélie Marsot
Antibiotics 2021, 10(5), 507; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/antibiotics10050507 - 29 Apr 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3347
Abstract
Background: Although aminoglycosides are often used as treatment for Gram-negative infections, optimal dosing regimens remain unclear, especially in ICU patients. This is due to a large between- and within-subject variability in the aminoglycoside pharmacokinetics in this population. Objective: This review provides comprehensive data [...] Read more.
Background: Although aminoglycosides are often used as treatment for Gram-negative infections, optimal dosing regimens remain unclear, especially in ICU patients. This is due to a large between- and within-subject variability in the aminoglycoside pharmacokinetics in this population. Objective: This review provides comprehensive data on the pharmacokinetics of aminoglycosides in patients hospitalized in the ICU by summarizing all published PopPK models in ICU patients for amikacin, gentamicin, and tobramycin. The objective was to determine the presence of a consensus on the structural model used, significant covariates included, and therapeutic targets considered during dosing regimen simulations. Method: A literature search was conducted in the Medline/PubMed database, using the terms: ‘amikacin’, ‘gentamicin’, ‘tobramycin’, ‘pharmacokinetic(s)’, ‘nonlinear mixed effect’, ‘population’, ‘intensive care’, and ‘critically ill’. Results: Nineteen articles were retained where amikacin, gentamicin, and tobramycin pharmacokinetics were described in six, 11, and five models, respectively. A two-compartment model was used to describe amikacin and tobramycin pharmacokinetics, whereas a one-compartment model majorly described gentamicin pharmacokinetics. The most recurrent significant covariates were renal clearance and bodyweight. Across all aminoglycosides, mean interindividual variability in clearance and volume of distribution were 41.6% and 22.0%, respectively. A common consensus for an optimal dosing regimen for each aminoglycoside was not reached. Conclusions: This review showed models developed for amikacin, from 2015 until now, and for gentamicin and tobramycin from the past decades. Despite the growing challenges of external evaluation, the latter should be more considered during model development. Further research including new covariates, additional simulated dosing regimens, and external validation should be considered to better understand aminoglycoside pharmacokinetics in ICU patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotics Research in Canada)
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