Announcement: Get Smart About Antibiotics Week — November 16–22, 2015

Weekly

November 13, 2015 / 64(44);1258

Every year, more than 2 million persons in the United States are infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria and approximately 23,000 persons die as a result of these infections (1). The rise of antibiotic resistance continues to represent a serious threat to human and animal health, national security, and economies worldwide. November 16–22, 2015, is Get Smart About Antibiotics Week, an annual observance to raise awareness of the threat of antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic prescribing and use.

The use of antibiotics is the single most important factor leading to antibiotic resistance around the world. Earlier this year, the White House released the National Action Plan to Combat Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, a roadmap to guide activities like stewardship programs. In addition, stakeholders joined a White House Forum on Antibiotic Stewardship to raise awareness and encourage partners to commit to focusing on stewardship activities in the coming years. The commitments made by those invested in this issue will set the course to help the nation make measurable progress on this important public health threat.

Get Smart About Antibiotics Week is a key component of CDC's efforts to improve antibiotic stewardship in communities, health care facilities, nursing homes, and on farms in collaboration with state-based programs and nonprofit and for-profit partners. Get Smart About Antibiotics Week coincides with the World Health Organization's first World Antibiotic Awareness Week and many other global antibiotic resistance observances, including those in Europe, Australia, and Canada. Information on scheduled activities and how to get involved in combating antibiotic resistance is available at http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/week/index.html.

Reference

CDC. Antibiotic resistance threats in the United States, 2013. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2013. Available athttp://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/threat-report-2013.