Each year in the United States, at least 2 million people become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and at least 23,000 people die as a direct result of these infections. Many more people die from other conditions that were complicated by an antibiotic-resistant infection. U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week, November 13-19, 2017, is an annual one-week observance to raise awareness of antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic prescribing and use. This observance is a key component of CDC’s efforts to improve antibiotic stewardship in communities, in healthcare facilities, and on the farm in collaboration with state-based programs, nonprofit partners, and for-profit partners.
To help raise awareness, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a list of activities you can do to get involved, and developed a promotional toolkit to help public health professionals promote this important observance. The toolkit includes:
Resources are available for healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the general public.