Promote and participate in World Antibiotic Awareness Week, November 18–24th

Various groups worldwide are urging healthcare providers to encourage their colleagues and patients to participate in World Antibiotic Awareness Week (November 18–24, 2019). The goals are to create greater awareness about antibiotic resistance and promote appropriate antibiotic use in all healthcare settings.(1-3)Antibiotic resistance is one of the most urgent health threats we face globally. To promote the informed use of antibiotics, Antibiotic Awareness Week Canada has launched the Think you need antibiotics? Think twice, Seek advice campaign. It asks Canadians to question their assumptions and speak to their healthcare providers about when antibiotics are needed and when they are not. The 2019 campaign focuses on five areas where antibiotics are often used inappropriately: flu, sinus aches, cough and cold, toothaches and cloudy urine. The Antibiotic Awareness Week Canada website provides access to several resources that promote appropriate antibiotic use.(2)Public Health Ontario also offers several suggestions for interactive activities and engaging resources to help educate healthcare providers and patients about appropriate antibiotic use:Videos that can be shared by email, on an organization’s intranet, or played in a loop in an Antibiotic Awareness Week booth. For example, a video called Sometimes No Antibiotic is the Best Prescription explains why and when antibiotics may not be needed for upper respiratory tract infections and what patients can do to feel better without antibiotics.Interactive activities that can be shared electronically or in-person. For example, the Which Antibiotic Are You? “viral” personality quiz for healthcare professionals and patients determines which antibiotic best matches their personality, while learning about antibiotic misuse.Live webinar about Antibiotics and the Microbiome (Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at 12 pm EST).Handouts and Tools. These include evidence-based resources such as Key Practice Statements for Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (Choosing Wisely Canada), which provides recommendations and practical tips to help optimize antibiotic prescribing in primary care. The Shorter is Smarter Fact Sheet for healthcare professionals explains that shorter courses of antibiotics are effective and can reduce unnecessary antibiotic exposure for patients; it outlines durations of therapy that are recommended for common infections.(3)Overall, World Antibiotic Awareness Week aims to increase global 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. Practice resources specifically designed for pharmacists are available from the Canadian Pharmacists Association, including the video Four Ways Pharmacists Can Help Fight Antimicrobial Resistance.(4)ReferencesWorld Health Organization. World Antibiotic Awareness Week 2019. https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2019/11/18/default-calendar/world-antibiotic-awareness-week-2019 (accessed November 11, 2019).Antibiotic Awareness Week Canada. Think you need antibiotics? Think twice. Seek advice. https://antibioticawareness.ca/ (accessed November 11, 2019).Public Health Ontario. Antibiotic Awareness Week 2019. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/about/blog/2019/aww2019 (accessed November 11, 2019).Canadian Pharmacists Association. Antimicrobial resistance. The role of pharmacists. https://www.pharmacists.ca/advocacy/antimicrobial-resistance/ (accessed November 11, 2019).

Promote and participate in World Antibiotic Awareness Week, November 18–24th

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