U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week: November 18 – 24, 2022

Posted in RESOURCES

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP
Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare

This Friday kicks off U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week (USAAW), November 18-24. This year’s theme is prevention. Data in CDC’s 2022 COVID-19 Special Report [PDF – 44 Pages] showed that many patients with COVID-19, including outpatients, receive unnecessary antibiotic treatment. Antibiotics can save lives, but their use can cause side effects and contribute to the development of resistant germs. However, infection prevention stops the spread of germs and reduces antibiotic use. 

In observance of USAAW, CDC encourages healthcare providers to download and share CDC’s Be Antibiotics Aware materials on improving antibiotic use and CDC’s Project Firstline training resources on healthcare infection control. Improving the way healthcare professionals prescribe antibiotics and prevent the spread of germs, helps keep us healthy now, helps fight antimicrobial resistance, and ensures that these life-saving antibiotics will be available for future generations. 

Healthcare Professionals: Be Antibiotics Aware this USAAW: 

Download new and updated educational materials or order FREE copies via CDC-INFO, including: 

Use CDC’s Project Firstline for training and educational resources on healthcare infection control. 

Attend webinars on improving antibiotic stewardship: 

Jump into Twitter chats using #AntimicrobialResistance and #USAAW22 hashtags: 

  • November 15, 7 p.m. EST: Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists, American Nurses Association, and CDC are co-hosting a live Twitter chat on a multidisciplinary approach to antimicrobial resistance in health care. Join the conversation @SIDPharm, @ANANursingworld, @CDC_AR, and @CDC_Firstline using #AntimicrobialResistance and #USAAW22
  • November 18, all day: 24-hour Global Twitter Conversation using #WAAW and #AntimicrobialResistance

Read the latest research: 

Go Light Blue for AR to show your support for improving the use of antibiotics and antifungal drugs: 

  • Wear light blue
  • Light up buildings and landmarks in light blue for the week 
  • Bring light blue to your online presence
  • Share pictures on your social media, tagging #AntimicrobialResistance and #USAAW22 

Everyone has a role in combating antimicrobial resistance and improving antibiotic use, including you! Find more ways to participate in USAAW and check out CDC’s USAAW 2022 Partner Toolkit to help spread the word.