World Antibiotic Awareness Week: 14 to 20 November 2016

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared 14 to 20 November 2016 as World Antibiotic Awareness Week.

The campaign aims to increase awareness of global antibiotic resistance and to encourage best practices among the general public, health workers, policy-makers and the agriculture sector to avoid the further emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance.

Earlier this year, the United Nations General Assembly had discussed rising antimicrobial resistance, signifying the seriousness of the situation.

Key Messages:

The theme for the World Antibiotic Awareness Week is ‘Antibiotics: Handle with care‘.

Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health today. It poses a major challenge to health, food security, & development. It can affect anyone, of any age, in any country.

All around the world, bacteria are becoming resistant to the antibiotics used to treat the infections they cause, resulting in longer illnesses & more deaths. At the same time, not enough new antibiotics are being developed to replace older & increasingly ineffective ones.

Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change in response to the use of antibiotics. While this happens naturally, the over-use & misuse of antibiotics has accelerated the process, leading to record high levels of antibiotic resistance.

The current global antibiotic resistance crisis is the result of many factors:

over-prescribing & dispensing of antibiotics
misuse of antibiotics by patients
over-use & misuse of antibiotics in livestock, fish farming & on plants
lack of new antibiotics being developed
poor infection control in hospitals, clinics & farms
lack of toilets & proper sewage disposal

Without urgent action, the world is headed for a ‘post-antibiotic era’ in which common infections & minor injuries which have been treatable for decades can once again kill, & the benefits of advanced medical treatments such as chemotherapy & major surgery will be lost.

Without effective antibiotics, a growing list of infections is becoming harder to treat.

Access to effective antibiotics is also essential to protect animal health, as well as to improve animal welfare, treat sick animals, food security & food safety.

Antibiotics are a precious resource that cannot be taken for granted.

How the public can help:

Only use antibiotics when prescribed by a certified health professional
Never demand antibiotics if your health worker says you don’t need them
Always follow your health worker’s advice when using antibiotics
Never share or use leftover antibiotics
Prevent infections by regularly washing your hands, handling food in a safe/clean manner, avoiding close contact with sick people, practising safer sex & keeping vaccinations up to date

How health professionals can help:

Prevent infections by ensuring that your hands, instruments & environment are clean & safe for use at the right times
Keep your patients’ vaccinations up to date
Talk to your patients about antibiotic resistance & dangers of unnecessary use
Only prescribe & dispense antibiotics when they are truly needed
Prescribe & dispense antibiotics according to current guidelines Dentists:
Always follow infection prevention & control protocols
Only prescribe antibiotics when they are needed, & according to current guidelines
When prescribing antibiotics, talk to patients about how to take them correctly, antibiotic resistance & the dangers of misuse
Ask your patient about their previous & present antibiotic use
Talk to patients about preventing infections (e.g. good oral hygiene)

Doctors:

Always follow infection prevention & control protocols
Use diagnostics to make informed treatment decisions (when possible)
Only prescribe & dispense antibiotics when they are needed, according to current guidelines
Talk to patients about how to take antibiotics correctly, antibiotic resistance & the dangers of misuse Talk to patients about preventing infections (e.g. vaccination, hand washing, safer sex, covering nose & mouth when sneezing)

Pharmacists:

Only dispense antibiotics when they are needed, according to current guidelines (e.g. check the patient has a valid prescription, for the right drug/dose/duration)
When patients are seeking treatment for cold or flu, explain that antibiotics are not needed
Talk to patients about how to take antibiotics correctly, antibiotic resistance & the dangers of misuse
Remind patients to contact their health professional if symptoms persist or they experience side effects
Talk to patients about preventing infections (e.g. vaccination, hand washing, safer sex, covering nose & mouth when sneezing)

How farmers & food producers can help:

Only give antibiotics to animals—including food-producing & companion animals — to control or treat infectious diseases & under veterinary supervision
Phase out the use of antibiotics for grow promotion & only use antibiotics to prevent disease under veterinary authority for specific circumstances & for a limited time
Vaccinate animals to reduce the need for antibiotics & use alternatives to antibiotic available
Promote & apply good practices at all steps of production & processing of foods from animal & plant sources
Improve biosecurity on farms & prevent infections through improved hygiene & animal welfare