Global Campaign Underscores Rising Threat of Drug-Resistant Infections
From November 18 to 24, 2023, World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW) was observed globally, with healthcare agencies, public health organizations, and governments—including the United States—participating in efforts to raise awareness about antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and supported domestically by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), this year’s campaign focused on preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics through coordinated efforts in education, stewardship, infection prevention, and research innovation.
AMR is now recognized as a top global public health threat, with resistant infections rendering once-effective treatments obsolete and leading to longer illnesses, higher healthcare costs, and increased mortality. WAAW 2023 aimed to spotlight this growing crisis and promote multi-sector action to combat it.
The Growing Crisis of Antimicrobial Resistance
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to resist the effects of medications, making standard treatments ineffective and infections harder to control. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- In the U.S. alone, over 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infections occur annually.
- These infections result in more than 35,000 deaths each year.
- Globally, AMR is projected to cause 10 million deaths annually by 2050 if left unchecked.
High-risk environments—such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, and agricultural settings—often act as breeding grounds for resistant pathogens, underscoring the need for targeted interventions across human, animal, and environmental health systems, also known as the One Health approach.
U.S. Participation and National Initiatives
Throughout WAAW 2023, U.S. health agencies and institutions rolled out campaigns and tools to promote responsible antibiotic use and improve public and provider awareness. Key highlights included:
- The CDC’s “Be Antibiotics Aware” campaign, which provided updated resources for patients and clinicians on when antibiotics are and are not appropriate.
- Educational webinars and stewardship toolkits distributed by hospitals, medical associations, and academic health centers.
- Public health messaging on social media platforms emphasizing hand hygiene, vaccination, and proper infection control practices as critical components in reducing unnecessary antibiotic use.
- Outreach to veterinary and agricultural sectors, encouraging reduced reliance on antibiotics for growth promotion in livestock and better regulation of antimicrobial use in food production.
The U.S. National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (CARB) also continues to serve as a roadmap for national response, emphasizing research, surveillance, and stewardship across federal, state, and local levels.
Emphasizing Antimicrobial Stewardship in Healthcare
A central theme of WAAW 2023 was the importance of antimicrobial stewardship, which refers to a coordinated set of strategies to optimize the use of antimicrobial medications, improve patient outcomes, and reduce resistance.
Healthcare providers were encouraged to:
- Avoid prescribing antibiotics for viral infections, such as colds or flu.
- Educate patients about the risks of misuse and the importance of completing prescribed courses.
- Use diagnostic testing and clinical guidelines to guide treatment decisions.
- Engage in interdisciplinary collaboration with pharmacists, infection control specialists, and microbiologists.
Hospitals and health systems were urged to strengthen their stewardship programs and report usage and resistance patterns through CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).
Research and Innovation Remain Critical
With existing antibiotics becoming less effective, WAAW also highlighted the urgent need for investment in new antimicrobials, alternative therapies, and rapid diagnostics. The pipeline for novel antibiotics remains alarmingly thin, due in part to scientific, regulatory, and market challenges.
Calls for:
- Increased public-private partnerships to incentivize antibiotic research and development.
- Expansion of global surveillance networks to monitor emerging resistance trends.
- Stronger international cooperation to ensure equitable access to effective treatments worldwide.
were echoed across the healthcare and research communities during the observance week.
A Shared Responsibility
World Antibiotic Awareness Week 2023 concluded with a clear message: everyone has a role to play in fighting antimicrobial resistance. From policymakers and healthcare providers to patients, veterinarians, and the agricultural industry, collective action is essential to prevent a post-antibiotic era where common infections become untreatable.
By combining prevention, stewardship, education, and innovation, the U.S. and its global partners can preserve the effectiveness of life-saving medicines for generations to come.
Source:
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion – World Antibiotic Awareness Week 2023
CDC – Be Antibiotics Aware
