Question:
Do you know where I can find fact sheets and other tools addressing antibiotic resistance?
Answer:
According to the CDC, 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.
The first World Antibiotic Awareness Week is now, November 16 – 20, 2015. World Antibiotic Awareness Week aims to increase awareness of global 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.
Get Smart About Antibiotics Week is an annual one-week observance ((November 16-22, 2015) sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) designed to raise awareness of antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic prescribing and use. The 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. The one-week observance raises awareness of the threat of antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic prescribing and use.
The CDC has multiple resources available to health care providers in support of Get Smart About Antibiotics Week including:
- Guidelines for adult and pediatric antibiotic usage
- Checklists for the core elements of a hospital antibiotic stewardship program
- Example Hospital Stewardship Programs
The World Health Organization also has tools on their website.
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Pharmacy/Medication Management Manual
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StayAlert! – Regulatory Alert System, and Learning Management System