AMR surveillance in Canada: Insights from the 2025 Priority Pathogen List

A recent study analyzing Canada’s 2025 AMR Priority Pathogen List evaluated how well national surveillance systems detect and monitor high-risk antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. Using a multi-criteria decision analysis of 29 pathogens based on data from 2017–2022, the researchers found notable shifts in the AMR landscape, with emerging threats such as Candida auris, drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Mycoplasma genitalium identified as high priorities. While Canada’s surveillance infrastructure—particularly the AMRNet platform—has the potential to capture about 90% of prioritized pathogens, important gaps remain, especially for pathogens lacking routine diagnostics and for populations disproportionately affected by AMR. The study concludes that although Canada has made significant progress toward integrated and equity-informed AMR surveillance, continued investment, better data integration, and stronger monitoring systems are needed to support timely public-health action.