Keeping up momentum after U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week

Continue to combat antimicrobial resistance throughout the year

What You Can Do to Help Combat Antimicrobial Resistance

Even though U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week (USAAW) just ended, our work to combat antimicrobial resistance does not stop. We need your help to keep the momentum going!

Why it matters

In July 2024, CDC published Antimicrobial Resistance Threats in the United States, 2021-2022. These new data show that six bacterial antimicrobial-resistant hospital-onset infections increased by a combined 20% during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period, peaking in 2021, and remaining above pre-pandemic levels in 2022. In addition, the number of reported clinical cases of C. auris—a type of yeast that can spread in healthcare facilities, is often resistant to antifungal medications, and can cause severe illness—increased nearly five-fold from 2019 to 2022. These data show that additional action is critical to slow the spread and impact of antimicrobial resistance (AR). From travelers, animal owners, and caregivers to patients and healthcare providers, we all have a role to play to combat antimicrobial resistance.

What actions can you take to help combat antimicrobial resistance? Ask your healthcare provider or veterinarian about the best treatment when you, your family, or an animal is sick. Antibiotics and antifungals aren’t always the answer. Keep your hands clean by washing or using hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol to help stop germs from spreading. Stay up to date on recommended vaccines to help prevent infections, slow antimicrobial resistance, and reduce antibiotic and antifungal use. Prepare food safely to avoid foodborne infections. Clean your hands, utensils, and surfaces. Separate raw meat from other foods. Cook foods to safe temperatures. Chill foods promptly. Know about (and use!) safer sex options, such as using condoms the right way every time you have sex, to lower your risk of getting a drug-resistant sexually transmitted infection. What can healthcare providers do to combat antimicrobial resistance?  Follow infection prevention and control guidelines, including screening at-risk patients when indicated. Improve antibiotic and antifungal prescribing by following clinical and treatment guidelines. Be aware of infections and antimicrobial resistance trends in your facility and community. Inform patients and families if they have an antimicrobial-resistant infection, as well as sexual partners when appropriate. Know when to report cases and submit resistant isolates to the health department to identify unusual resistance or treatment failures. *Use the Gonorrhea Treatment Failure Consultation Form to report gonorrhea cephalosporin treatment failure or other concerning lab results*. Ensure your patients receive recommended vaccines. Educate your patients and their families about preventing the spread of germs and infections, keeping scrapes and wounds clean, managing chronic conditions, seeking medical care when an infection is not getting better, and understanding when antibiotics and antifungals are needed. Check out some of the resources we shared during USAAW! Be Antibiotics Aware educational materials for patients/families and healthcare professionals. You can order FREE print resources by calling 1-800-CDC-INFO or visiting CDC-Publications on Demand. Select “Antibiotic Use” from the Program drop-down menu and click “Apply” to view all available publications.   Antibiotic Stewardship Resource Bundles for healthcare professionals, partner organizations, health departments, and professional societies. New Safe Healthcare blogs on CDC and global partners committing to collective action to combat antimicrobial resistance and dentists improving patient safety through optimizing antibiotic prescribing. A new global story on hospitals in India that are using a powerful new laboratory tool to combat dangerous AR. Updates on antibiotic use and stewardship in the U.S. We look forward to continuing this critical work with you to raise awareness about appropriate antibiotic and antifungal prescribing and use and the threat of antimicrobial resistance. Together, we can combat antimicrobial resistance.

	Even though U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week just ended, our work to improve #antibiotic and #antifungal prescribing & use continue. We all have a role to play to combat #AntimicrobialResistance. https://bit.ly/3L8mSu1

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