World Antibiotic Awareness Week – 18-24 November 2022

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH, founded as OIE) are pleased to announce the theme of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) 2022: 'Preventing antimicrobial resistance together' to eradicate antimicrobial resistance and encourage better antimicrobial use.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve and cease to respond to medications, making infections more difficult to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death. Antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective due to drug resistance, and infections become more difficult to treat.

Antimicrobial Resistance Factors (AMR)

The alarming trend toward widespread antimicrobial resistance (AMR) seen in hospitals and other healthcare settings, as well as in the general population, is multidrug resistance (MDR). It contributes significantly to health problems and increases costs for individuals and society. It evolves gradually over time, primarily as a result of genetic changes.

●Inappropriate (misuse and overuse) use of antibiotics
●Inadequate access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene for both humans and animals
●Infection prevention and control in healthcare facilities and farms are insufficient.
●Insufficient access to high-quality, low-cost medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics
●a lack of awareness and knowledge, a lack of legislative enforcement

Prevention Halts Antimicrobial Resistance; Do Your Part

Take the following precautions to protect yourself and your family from infection:

●Maintain good hygiene and keep your hands clean.
●Maintain current vaccination records.
●Improve your use of antifungal and antibiotics tablets for humans, animals, and plants.
●Use safer sexual practices.
●Take good food and water

Antibiotic misuse and overuse, as well as ineffective infection prevention and control, hasten the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These precautions can help lower your risk, stop the spread of germs, and preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics and antifungals.

Source: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-antimicrobial-awareness-week/2022
https://www.unep.org/events/unep-event/world-antimicrobial-awareness-week-2022
https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/solutions-initiative/stories/USAAW-2022.html
https://www.pacehospital.com/world-antimicrobial-awareness-week-waaw