Free Symposium – “Forward Thinking on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)” – November 22-23, 2022
bioMérieux Canada is hosting a free symposium on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) during World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) on November 22 & 23, 2022 at the Park Hyatt Toronto.
Day 1: From diagnostics to patient Tuesday, November 22, 2022 9:30 am – 4:30 pm EDT
Objectives:
Participants will get updates about the current status of AMR in Canada.
Participants will expand their understanding on the role that microbiology laboratories can play in the fight against AMR.
Participants will learn more about new diagnostic approaches.
Intended audience:
Microbiology lab technologists and supervisors
Microbiologists
Students studying infectious diseases and clinical microbiology
Anyone who wants to know more about AMR
Preliminary Agenda
Morning
Dr. Susan Poutanen: Multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) in the laboratory – impact and challenges
Dr. Tony Mazzulli: Understanding breakpoints
Dr. Philippe Dufresne: 2022 update on yeast susceptibility testing
Dr. Tanis Dingle, Dr. Ramzi Fattouh: Is it time to BENCH phenotypic Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) and step into the genomic era? A debate
Afternoon
Dr. Victor Leung: From diagnosis to treatment – The power of diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship
Dr. Charles Frenette: Update on antimicrobial resistance situation in Canada
Katherine Perez: Role and gaps of current microbiology diagnostics to address sepsis
Dr. Stefanovic; Scott Bergman: Experience with rapid molecular test for sepsis
Dr. Danielle Brabant-Kirwan: Canadian clinical microbiology laboratory initiatives that support antimicrobial stewardship programs
Day 2: Canadian perspectives on AMR: Where we are now and looking ahead Wednesday, November 23, 2022 9:30 am – 5:00 pm EDT
Hosted in collaboration with the Emerging & Pandemic Infections Consortium (EPIC) at the University of Toronto.
Two sessions:
The current state of AMS and AMR research
New approaches to combating AMR
Objectives:
Participants will learn about current research initiatives and explore new research efforts to further our understanding of antimicrobial resistance and learn about new innovative approaches to help preserve antimicrobials.
Participants will expand their understanding of successes and challenges for antimicrobial stewardship efforts across different healthcare settings in Canada.
Participants will evaluate current efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance and brainstorm ideas to help overcome current challenges.
Intended audience:
Healthcare professionals: pharmacy, infectious disease, nurse, medical researchers, clinicians, clinician scientists, biomedical & clinical researchers etc.
Policy makers and public health agency officials
Anyone who wants to know more about AMR
Preliminary Agenda
Morning
Dr. Susan Poutanen: Gaps in our understanding of AMR – How research can help
Dr. Jane Parmley: One Health and AMR
Dr. Bradley Langford: A pandemic within a pandemic: antibiotic resistance and COVID-19
Panel discussion – Best practice sharing case studies of stewardship in action
Moderator: Dr. Tony Mazzulli
Panelists: Melissa Kucey; Dr. Jeya Nadarajah; Dr. Paul Bonnar; Stefanie Lam
Lunch
Plenary Lecture – Dr. John Conly: Why we need a One Health approach to stewardship
Afternoon
Dr. Cora Constantinescu: Promoting behavioral change: adapting stewardship approaches based on behavioral models
Dr. Kevin Schwartz: Antimicrobial stewardship for primary care
Dr. Karen Maxwell: Research advances in the antimicrobial
pipeline: novel phage-based therapeutics
Dr. Nikki Weckman: CRISPR-based point-of-care diagnostics for monitoring resistance
Dr. George Zhanel: New antimicrobial pipeline: what’s in development and what’s needed
Panel discussion – A call to action: setting research priorities to address knowledge gaps in AMR/AMS
Moderator: Dr. Robert Kozak
Panelists: Dr. Kevin Schwartz; Dr. Karen Maxwell; Dr. Nikki Weckman
STAY TUNED…
We will be in touch in the coming weeks with additional information including:
Final agenda
Calendar invitation
Parking
MORE INFORMATION TO COME
For those requiring flights and accommodations, please note that these will be at your own expense. However, to reserve a room at the hotel Park Hyatt, we are pleased to offer our discounted rate of $375 plus tax/night for a standard deluxe king on the nights of November 21st and November 22nd. Note that the prevailing room rate is available until October 21st and based on hotel availability. For more details, please reach out to Josiane Clement at
Should you have any questions, please contact Vanessa Kouadio at