Keep the momentum going after USAAW

How 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 (AR) doesn’t stop. We need your help to keep the momentum going!  Antimicrobial-resistant germs spread in and between healthcare facilities, the community, food, plants, and the environment (water and soil). Antimicrobial resistance can affect anyone, anywhere, and at any stage of life. Preventing infections from happening in the first place and improving appropriate antibiotic and antifungal use are critical to fighting AR. From travelers, animal owners, and caregivers to patients and healthcare providers, we all have a role to play to combat antimicrobial resistance.

What can you do to reduce your risk of infections and combat antimicrobial resistance at home, in your community, or while traveling? 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, prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistance, and reduce antibiotic and antifungal use. Talk with a healthcare provider about what’s best for your situation.  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.  Practice safer sex. Learn effective strategies to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections, including using condoms the right way every time you have sex.  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.  Educate patients on ways to prevent the spread of germs and infections.  Be aware of infections and AR trends in your facility and community.  Inform patients and families if they have an antimicrobial-resistant infection.  Know when to report cases and submit resistant isolates to the health department to identify unusual resistance or treatment failures.  Check out some of the resources we shared during USAAW! Be Antibiotics Aware educational materials for patients/families and healthcare professionals.  Fungal pneumonias testing algorithms.  Model Performance Evaluation Program (MPEP) for tuberculosis treatment programs.  Updated treatment guidelines for drug-susceptible and drug-resistant tuberculosis.  Neonatal Bloodstream Infection Prevention Assessment  Core Principles for Resource-Limited Settings  Global Antibiotic Stewardship Evaluation Tool in English and Spanish Thank you for participating in this important week. 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 continues. We all have a role to play to combat #AntimicrobialResistance. #USAAW24 https://bit.ly/42zcNzp

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