Antibiotics Can Save Lives. We Need Your Help to Preserve Them for the Future.

Find tips to continue being antibiotic aware as USAAW comes to an end

The Mission Continues: What Are You Doing to Improve Antibiotic Use?

Today marks the last day of U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week 2021, but our work to improve antibiotic prescribing and use and combat antibiotic resistance doesn’t stop here. We need your help to keep the momentum going! Antibiotics can save lives and are critical tools for treating infections, including those that can lead to sepsis. However, any time antibiotics are used—in people, animals, or crops—they contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance.

Here’s why it matters:  Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest public health challenges of our time. Each year in the United States, at least 2.8 million people get an antibiotic-resistant infection, and more than 35,000 people die. Antibiotic-resistant germs can quickly spread across communities, the food supply, healthcare facilities, the environment (soil and water), and around the world.

Remember these 8 facts to continue being antibiotics aware: Antibiotics can save lives. They are critical tools for treating life-threatening conditions, such as pneumonia and sepsis. When a patient needs antibiotics, the benefits outweigh the risks of side effects or antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics aren’t always the answer. Talk with your healthcare provider or veterinarian about the best treatment when you, your family, or an animal is sick. Antibiotics are only needed to treat infections caused by bacteria, but even some bacterial infections get better without antibiotics, including many sinus infections and some ear infections.  Antibiotics do not work on viruses, such as those that cause colds, flu, or COVID-19. Respiratory viruses usually go away in a week or two without treatment. Ask your healthcare professional about the best way to feel better while your body fights off the virus. If you need antibiotics, take them exactly as prescribed. Do not use antibiotics that aren’t prescribed for you by your healthcare professional. Talk with your healthcare professional if you have any questions about your antibiotics, or if you develop any side effects. Diarrhea can be a symptom of Clostridioides difficile infection (also called C. difficile or C. diff), which needs to be treated. If you have animals, talk with your veterinarian about using antibiotics responsibly to keep people and pets healthy. Don’t use antibiotics that aren’t prescribed by your veterinarian. Store antibiotics safely in your home, so that children and pets do not accidentally take medicine not meant for them. Dispose of antibiotics properly. Do not flush them. Medicine take-back programs are a good way to safely dispose of most types of unneeded or expired drugs. Experts are working to better understand antibiotic resistance in the environment (e.g., water, soil) and its possible impact on people. In case you missed them, check out the latest resources CDC released this week. Updated Be Antibiotic Aware educational materials including:                 o Common infections graphics      o Antibiotics Aren’t Always the Answer brochure      o Viruses/Bacteria Chart      o Nursing Home Viruses/Bacteria Chart New Safe Healthcare blog, authored by C. diff survivor and Peggy Lillis Foundation board member Christina Fuhrman, on finding her voice as a C. diff patient. Thank you for participating in this important week. We look forward to continuing this important work with you to raise awareness about appropriate antibiotic use and the threat of antibiotic resistance. Together, we can make a difference.

	#Antibiotics are critical tools for treating serious infections, but when abx aren’t needed, like for #COVID19 or flu, they won’t help you, & their side effects could cause harm. Ask your #HCP about the best way to treat your illness. https://bit.ly/3rKkb7M #USAAW21

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