President Obama has proclaimed November 16–22 “Get Smart About Antibiotics Week,” in support of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) annual one-week observance to raise awareness of the threat of antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic prescribing.
The campaign builds on the momentum generated at the White House Forum on Antibiotic Stewardship, where more than 150 organizations, including NACDS, pledged to improve antibiotic use and slow the spread of antibiotic resistance.
CDC estimates that each year two million Americans get an infection with an antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Every year 23,000 of those patients die. CDC has made combating antibiotic resistance a top priority and is partnering with public institutions and private industry to overcome this challenge. It is critical to use these life-saving drugs when truly necessary, such as when treating patients with sepsis, while also using the right drug at the right dose and duration to protect the effectiveness of antibiotics.
NACDS is committed to working with the CDC and other stakeholders to develop the framework for community antibiotic stewardship programs, including education on antibiotic recommendations and guidelines for initiatives to improve the appropriate use antibiotics.
