Antibiotic Awareness Week (12-18 November, 2018)
Antibiotic resistance is not just in Australia, it is a worldwide problem. The World Health Organization has warned that antibiotic resistance is currently one of the greatest threats to human health. The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) and its Evolve initiative support
World Antibiotic Awareness Week. During World Antibiotic Awareness Week, RACP Evolve aims to engage and empower physicians and consumers to become part of the solution through education, research, shared-decision making and training.
Education and Advocacy
During World Antibiotic Awareness Week, RACP Evolve Clinical Champion, Dr Brendan McMullan, asks clinicians to follow evidence-based guidelines, seek advice when prescribing antibiotics and undertake research, which helps identify and support the best methods of antibiotic prescribing.
View the RACP Evolve World Antibiotic Awareness Week video.
Join the Campaign
During World Antibiotic Awareness Week, a global conversation will be held on social media using the hashtag #AntibioticResistance. Videos, messages and other resources will be shared by RACP on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. The social media guide gives you messages to share World Antibiotic Awareness Week on all social media platforms. Join the conversation throughout the week to learn more about the problem of antibiotic resistance and appropriate use of antibiotics.
Resources
RACP has created resources, including an advocacy/education video, social media images and messages, and print-your-own posters. These can be used to spread the message of World Antibiotic Awareness Week.
Evolve Antibiotic Awareness Recommendations
- Do not use antibiotics in asymptomatic bacteriuria
- Do not take a swab or use antibiotics for the management of a leg ulcer with no indication of clinical infection
- Avoid prescribing antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections
- Do not use antimicrobials to treat bacteriuria in older adults where specific urinary tract symptoms are not present
- Once patients have become afebrile (non-feverish) and are clinically improving, do not continue prescribing intravenous antibiotics to those with uncomplicated infections and no high-risk features if they are tolerant of oral antibiotics
- Do not use oral antibiotics for the treatment of atopic dermatitis unless there is clinical evidence of infection
- Do not routinely use topical antibiotics on a surgical wound
- Do not routinely prescribe oral antibiotics to children with fever without an identified bacterial infection
- Do not prescribe antibiotics for exacerbation of asthma
To view the Evolve recommendations, visit
Evolve Top 5 Lists.
Guidelines
Evidence-based advice and resources are available from Australasian Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ANZPID) and the Clinical Excellence Commission to help prescribers switch safely to oral therapy, for a range of infections. Resources include a checklist and patient information sheet, currently available in seven languages, to assist doctors and families going home.
Australian Resources
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
The Commission develops a wide range of resources for Antibiotic Awareness Week, including posters, fact sheets, presentation slides and other key items. For more details, please visit the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care website.
Clinical Excellence Commission
The Clinical Excellence Commission proudly supports Antibiotic Awareness Week each year. They have developed resources to assist NSW public hospitals with their Antibiotic Awareness Week activities. For more information and to view the resources, please visit the
Clinical Excellence Commission website.
NPS MedicineWise
NPS MedicineWise provides an opportunity for health professionals to make a 'pledge' to fight antibiotic resistance, and also provides a number of resources for both patients and clinicians. For more details, please visit the
NPS MedicineWise website.
The National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey (NAPS)
The NAPS was developed by a dedicated research team at Melbourne Health to assist healthcare facilities in monitoring their antimicrobial usage. For more details, please visit the National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey (NAPS) website.
New Zealand Resources
Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Health provides information and resources on Antimicrobial Resistance for health professionals and consumers. This includes the New Zealand Antimicrobial Resistance National Action Plan. For more details, please visit the Ministry of Health website.
Health Safety and Quality Commission
The Health Safety and Quality Commission will be running a World Antibiotic Awareness Week campaign and hosting a number of events. For more details, please visit the Health Safety and Quality Commission website.
International Resources
RACP Evolve's Antibiotic Awareness Week campaign is part of an international movement. Other resources, which have been developed internationally, may be of interest.