About antibiotic awareness
Antibiotics are important medicines. They help fight infections that are caused by bacteria. Antibiotic resistance (when an antibiotic is no longer effective) is a major problem. It is one of the most significant threats to patients' safety in Europe. Antibiotic resistance is driven by overusing antibiotics and prescribing them inappropriately. It's important that we use antibiotics the right way, to slow down resistance and make sure these life-saving medicines remain effective for us and future generations.
Watch the “Take care, not antibiotics” videos on this page
European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD)
Every year, European Antibiotic Awareness Day is held on November 18. It's a Europe-wide public health initiative which encourages responsible use of antibiotics. The initiative is supported in England by the Department of Health and its Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections (ARHAI).
What is the problem?
Antibiotic resistance is an everyday problem in all hospitals across England and Europe. The spread of resistant bacteria in hospitals is a major issue for patients' safety.
- Infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria increase levels of disease and death, as well as the length of time people stay in hospitals.
- Inappropriate use of antibiotics may increasingly cause patients to become colonised or infected with resistant bacteria.
- Few new antibiotics are being developed. As resistance in bacteria grows, it will become more difficult to treat infection, and this affects patient care.
What is causing this problem?
Inappropriate use and prescribing of antibiotics in hospitals is causing the development of resistance.
Inappropriate use includes:
- not completing a course of antibiotics as prescribed
- skipping doses of antibiotics
- not taking antibiotics at regular intervals
- saving some for later
Inappropriate prescribing includes:
- unnecessary prescription of antibiotics
- unsuitable use of broad-spectrum antibiotics
- wrong selection of antibiotics and inappropriate duration or dose of antibiotics
How can the problem be addressed?
Make antibiotic prescribing a strategic priority in hospitals by:
- targeting antibiotic therapy
- implementing structured antimicrobial stewardship plans
- reviewing local surveillance and assessing microbiological data
Make antibiotic prescribing a priority in primary care by:
- developing specific antibiotic prescribing guidelines for prescribers
Materials to support EAAD, November 18 2011 in England
To support EAAD and the promotion of sensible antibiotic use, the Department of Health (DH) and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have created information and educational materials for use in hospitals and primary care settings. You can download these and other materials from the DH website.
