European Antibiotic Awareness Day 18 November

European Antibiotic Awareness Day will take place 18th November.

European Antibiotic Awareness Day is a European-wide annual event that raises awareness on how to use antibiotics in a responsible way that will help keep them effective for the future.

This year also marks the first World Antibiotic Awareness Week being held 16 -20 November, which is aimed at highlighting that tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) requires global action.

The aim of these initiatives is to increase awareness of antibiotic resistance and to encourage people to use antibiotics responsibly to protect health by ensuring antibiotics remain effective.

Dr Mike Durkin, NHS England Director of Patient Safety, said: “Antimicrobial resistance is a major threat to the delivery of healthcare across the globe and requires us to act now to make sure we behave as responsible stewards of the use of antimicrobial medications so that these incredible elements of medical science can be preserved, not just for our own lifetime but for all future generations.

You can show your support towards using antibiotics responsibly and keeping them effective by becoming an Antibiotic Guardian. Simply select a personal pledge on the Antibiotic Guardian home page.

Let us know if you are taking part in activities to promote European Antibiotic Awareness week at pe@ibms.org.

For more information and resources visit the UK Government's antimicrobial resistance page.