U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week is near!

Join U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week activities

U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week (USAAW) 2023 Activities Start this Week  Start USAAW early with webinars and X (formerly Twitter) chats

This year’s theme is “Improve Antibiotic Use, Improve Health Equity.” Findings from Health Equity and Antibiotic Prescribing in the United States: A Systematic Scoping Review showed clinician antibiotic prescribing behavior varied by patient and clinician characteristics, such as patient’s race and ethnicity, socioeconomic factors, and healthcare setting. These findings further emphasize the importance of integrating health equity into antibiotic stewardship policies, practices, and research. Join CDC as we recognize the importance of improving antibiotic and antifungal prescribing and use, improving health equity, and slowing the spread of antimicrobial resistance.

Health equity means everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health. Health inequities resulting from less-than-optimal antibiotic or antifungal prescribing practices may impact health outcomes.

	Download the USAAW 2023 Partner Toolkit to find key messages and social media graphics. Check out CDC’s Be Antibiotics Aware Partner Toolkit for antibiotic stewardship resources for human health.

	Attend webinars on improving antibiotic and antifungal stewardship:

November 14, 2-3 p.m. EST: The Urgent Care Association’s College of Urgent Care Medicine is hosting a webinar on Common Myths & New Successes in Urgent Care Antibiotic Stewardship. November 14, 3-4 p.m. EST: CDC and the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy are hosting a webinar on the National Healthcare Safety Network Antibiotic Use Option: Using Data for Action in Critical Access Hospitals. November 20, 9-10 a.m. EST: The Global Subcommittee of the Pediatric Committee on Antimicrobial Stewardship (Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society), in collaboration with the World Health Organization, is hosting a webinar on Global AMR Surveillance and Pediatric Considerations. November 21, 7-8:30 a.m. EST: The International Pharmaceutical Federation is hosting a webinar on the Management of Fungal Diseases, Antifungal Stewardship, and the Role of Pharmacists.

	Jump into X (formally Twitter) conversations:

November 14, 8-9 p.m. EST: Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists, @CDC_AR, The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, and the American College of Clinical Pharmacy Infectious Diseases Practice and Research Network are hosting a live chat on antibiotic prescribing equity. Use #ABXRxEquity and #USAAW23 to join the conversation. November 16, 10-11 a.m. EST: Join @CDC_AR in posting messages about improving antibiotic and antifungal use and reducing the spread of antimicrobial resistance during a Global X Storm. Join the conversation using #WAAW23Xstorm. November 18-24, daily: Help spread the word with family, friends, and colleagues so they can also get involved. Follow @CDC_AR and repost throughout the week using #AntimicrobialResistance, #USAAW23, and #WAAW.

	Read the latest Safe Healthcare blogs:

Guest writer, Cosby Stone, MD, MPH discusses antibiotic stewardship when an allergy label is present and improving antibiotic care and treatment outcomes. CDC’s Sophie Jones, PhD, MSc and Elizabeth Soda, MD, part of the Prevention Team in the International Infection Control Branch in the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, share how two hospitals in Ethiopia are committed to infection control practices to combat antimicrobial resistance with limited resources available.

	Listen to:

	The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists podcast on November 20. The podcast will discuss the core elements of antibiotic stewardship for health departments. The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America’s (SHEA) recording of an in-person workshop, Advancing Health Equity through Antimicrobial Stewardship. NOTE: Non-SHEA members will need to register to view recordings.

	Go Purple for USAAW to show your support for improving the use of antibiotics and antifungals and combating antimicrobial resistance. You can:

Fill out the Go Purple for USAAW interest form Wear purple and post pictures to social media encouraging your followers to improve antibiotic and antifungal use. Light up buildings and landmarks in purple for the week. Bring purple to your online presence: Share Go Purple and USAAW messages to your organization’s website, wear purple when on camera during online meetings, and share why you are wearing purple. Share pictures on your social media, tagging #GoPurpleforUSAAW, #AntimicrobialResistance or #USAAW23. Learn how you can take action this week and the rest of the year.

	Join U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week Nov. 18-24 & spread the word about the importance of improving #antibiotic & #antifungal use, improving health equity, and combating #AntimicrobialResistance. Download CDC’s Partner Toolkit for ways to share: https://bit.ly/3ZCDi4k #USAAW23

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