Surveillance, forecasting and response | Events and meetings | Increasing awareness of global antibiotic resistance

Increasing awareness of global antibiotic resistance

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Be part of the first World Antibiotic Awareness Week from 16 to 22 November 2015 to increase awareness of antibiotic resistance and to encourage best practices among the general public, health workers and policy-makers to avoid the further emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance.

The World Health Organization is leading a global campaign under the theme "Antibiotics: Handle with Care" calling on individuals, governments, health and agriculture professionals to take action to address this urgent problem.

The theme of the campaign reflects the overarching message that antibiotics are a precious resource and should be preserved. They should be used to treat bacterial infections, only when prescribed by a certified health professional. Antibiotics should never be shared and the full course of treatment should be completed – not saved for the future.

Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health today. It is rising to dangerously high levels in all parts of the world. It is compromising our ability to treat infectious diseases and putting people everywhere at risk.

Related link

World Antibiotic Awareness Week 

Antimicrobial resistance