Canadian Antibiotic Treatment Guidance
AMMI Canada received funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada to develop national antimicrobial prescribing guidelines for the empiric treatment of common infectious syndromes, an initiative for progress on the Pan Canadian Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2023-2027. This project is a key step forward in ensuring judicious use of antibiotics under the Stewardship pillar where prescribers and other professionals have the resources to facilitate appropriate antimicrobial use (1) .
AMMI Canada is using a robust methodological framework reviewing systematic reviews and meta-analyses and evaluating the quality of evidence using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach. A GRADE evidence to Decision frameworks for the adoption, adaptation, and de novo development (GRADE-ADOLOPMENT) (2) of the WHO’s essential medicines and Aware recommendations (3, 4) and other guidelines is applied. The pan-Canadian panel includes infectious disease physicians, medical microbiologists, pharmacists, family physicians, public health and preventive medicine specialists, pediatricians, and methodologists.
As part of the Pan-Canadian Action Plan, AMMI Canada is working with Firstline on the translation of the guidelines to the Firstline app.
Canadian Antibiotic Treatment Guidance: Free Download and Quick Start CLICK HERE
This initial release focuses on respiratory tract infections. By downloading the guidance now, clinicians can begin adopting best practices to support more effective care for our patients and communities. Additional treatment guidance for other syndromes will be added over time, building on this foundation to promote consistent, evidence-based antibiotic prescribing across Canada.
To support the dissemination and uptake of the Canadian Antibiotic Treatment Guidance (CATG), we are pleased to offer a collection of ready-to-use graphics and images. This toolkit has been designed to help clinicians, organizations, and partners easily share key messages and promote evidence-based antibiotic use.
All materials are available for download and may be used across presentations, social media, websites, and educational resources. We encourage you to use and share these assets widely to help advance antimicrobial stewardship and support best practices across Canada.
Canadian Antibiotic Treatment Guidance - Communication Toolkit
Past Webinars
From Evidence to Action:
Initial Launch of the Canadian Antibiotic Treatment Guidance
| Date: | November 13, 2025 |
| Moderator: | Kanchana Amaratunga, MD, MPH, FRCPC Infectious Diseases/Public Health Medical Advisor Public Health Agency of Canada |
| Presenter: | Deborah Yamamura, BSc, MD, FRCPC Chair, AMMI Canada Guideline Development Panel Professor, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine McMaster University, Hamilton, ON |
| Dena Zeraatkar, MSc, PhD Co-Chair/Senior Methodologist, AMMI Canada Guideline Development Panel McMaster University, Hamilton, ON |
|
| Michael Long, PhD Chief Clinical Officer Firstline |
By the end of this webinar participants will be able to:
- Understand the current antibiotic resistance (AMR) situation in Canada and worldwide
- Review the WHO Essential Medicines List and Antibiotic Handbook
- Gain a clear overview of the goals and methods behind the Canadian Antibiotic Treatment Guidance, including how the evidence was reviewed and adapted
- Navigate and use the Firstline platform to access and integrate the guidance into point-of-care decision-making
- See how the guidance applies to real cases such as: Acute pharyngitis and Community Acquired Pneumonia
- Learn what is coming next for this national initiative
Panel Membership
Deborah Yamamura
Dena Zeraatkar
Kevin Afra
Peter Daley
Bradley Langford
Tim Lau
Nicole Le Saux
Mark Loeb
Philippe Morency - Potvin
Alyssa Ness
Melani Sung
Alena Tse-Chang
Rene Wittmer
Riccarda Galioto
AMMI Canada, Executive Director
Joäo Pedro Lobo Lima
Methodologist
Jenna Wong
AMMI Canada Project Coordinator
For further information contact
Riccarda Galioto, Executive Director, AMMI Canada riccarda@ammi.ca
Press Release:
Government of Canada supports development & point-of-care dissemination of national antimicrobial prescribing guidelines
Pan-Canadian Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (PCAP)
References:
- https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/drugs-health-products/pan-canadian-action-plan-antimicrobial-resistance.html
- Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 81 (2017) 101e110 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2016.09.009
- Clinical Microbiology and Infection 30 (2024) S1-S51 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2024.02.003
- https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240062382
Disclaimer: The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada.
