World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week
Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week including promotional materials and SA Health activities.
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Antimicrobial resistance
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the biggest threats to humans, animals, and our environment.
It means that antimicrobial medicines, like antibiotics, might not work when you need them. Antimicrobial resistance is happening all over the world. Infections that were once easy to cure are becoming harder to treat.
What are antimicrobials?
Microbes are tiny organisms that are all around us. They include bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.
Microbes are important for us, but some can make us sick.
Antimicrobials are medicines used to treat infections that are caused by these microbes. They include antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitics.
What is antimicrobial resistance?
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) happens when microbes change over time and the antimicrobial medicines used to treat infections caused by them no longer work.
If antimicrobial medicines don’t work, it makes infections harder, or sometimes impossible, to treat.
Why does antimicrobial resistance happen?
Antimicrobial resistance happens when microbes develop defences to stop treatment working effectively.
This can be caused by using antimicrobial medicines, like antibiotics, too much or when we don’t need them.
What can you do?
- Prevent infections by regularly washing your hands with soap and warm water.
- Understand that antibiotics only work against bacteria. They do not work against viruses like colds and flu.
- Don’t pressure your health professional for antibiotics if they say you don’t need them.
- Only take antimicrobials when they are prescribed for you – don’t use or share leftover medicines.
- Follow your health professional’s instructions when you are prescribed antimicrobial medicines.
- Read Information for patients and carers on antibiotic medicines used in hospital.
- Return any unused antimicrobials, like antibiotics, to a pharmacy.
Further information
Learn more about AMR at amr.gov.au, and visit the Australian Centre for Disease Control to learn more about Australia’s response to AMR.
World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) is observed 18-24 November annually. The Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) supports WAAW in Australia through provision of resources and coordination of initiatives to support the effective use of antimicrobial medicines.