World Antibiotic Awareness Week this year is from November 18 to 24 and it is observed with a primary objective to educate people about the accurate use of antibiotics and the harmful effects of antibiotic resistance. Also Read: Antibiotics Awareness: Myths And Facts You Must Know

The World Health Organisation (WHO) in the year 2015 recognised the alarming rise in bacteria developing the ability to circumvent the drugs targeted to destroy them, or in other words, incidents of antibiotic resistance. This had lead to millions of fatalities worldwide in people who contracted microbial infections, particularly in the past two decades.

world antibiotic awareness week

Hence, the WHO called for an annual antibiotic awareness week to be held every year in November. The main goal is to inform healthcare providers and the general public about safety measures to prevent antibiotic resistance, to reduce the number of casualties occurring due to the same. Also Checkout: Resistance To Antibiotics Is Rising In India. Handle Antibiotics With Care

Causes Of Antibiotic Resistance:

The main factors leading to situations of antibiotic resistance in the majority of the world’s population, both in developed and developing countries, are the following:

  • Too high a dose of antibiotics prescribed to the patient
  • An individual not completing the full course of antibiotic medication advised by the doctor
  • Injecting high amounts of antibiotics in food products, especially in poultry, dairy and seafood processing industries
  • Hospitals and clinics with inadequate disinfecting stations and measures
  • Unhealthy personal hygiene and sanitation practices

Global Action Plan By The WHO To Combat Antibiotic Resistance:

The World Health Organisation has drafted a detailed five-pronged strategy, to significantly decrease the incidents of antibiotic resistance across all countries and continents. This involves:

  • Spreading facts to make people aware of what antibiotic resistance means and how drastically it can affect their health
  • Studying the biological mechanisms via research studies, to obtain more insight into the antibiotic resistance processes
  • Taking active steps to lower the number of cases of infections
  • Optimal use of available antibiotics to combat diseases
  • Economic investments into new innovations for more powerful and effective drugs

Active Steps The Public Can Take To Tackle Antibiotic Resistance:

Conclusion:

The WHO advises all families to educate their children about clean eating and personal hygiene habits, regular handwashing and consuming pure and filtered water, to ensure the complete prevention of seasonal and harmful infections, as well as curtail instances of antibiotic resistance.