The New York State Department of Health is calling attention to the dangers of antibiotic overuse and misuse, emphasizing that improper use can lead to antimicrobial resistance. This occurs when bacteria adapt and antibiotics lose their effectiveness, making infections harder or impossible to treat.
Recently released data show improvements in avoiding unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions for both children aged 3 months to 17 years and adults aged 18 to 64 years who are treated for acute respiratory infections. Despite these gains, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that at least two million people in the United States become infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria each year, resulting in a minimum of 23,000 deaths annually.
“Antibiotics can save lives when used to treat bacterial infections, but when taken improperly, they can have harmful health effects,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald. “It’s important to remember that antibiotics do not treat viral infections like COVID or the flu. New Yorkers should only take antibiotics as prescribed, so they receive the full benefit of treatment without contributing to antimicrobial resistance.”
U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week takes place from November 18 to 24 each year. The CDC’s theme for this year is “Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance Takes All of Us.” The Department urges residents to follow medical guidance on antibiotic use during this week.
Health care providers play a role by prescribing antibiotics only when necessary for certain bacterial infections. The Department has updated its Adult and Pediatric Antibiotic Prescribing Guidelines aimed at ensuring appropriate use.
To further support proper prescribing practices among professionals and raise public awareness, the CDC offers a Be Antibiotics Aware social media toolkit with key messages and resources.
In recognition of U.S. Antibiotics Awareness Week, several landmarks across New York State will be illuminated in purple on November 19.
For more information about antibiotics and how patients can discuss their use with health care providers, visit here.
Details about antimicrobial resistance are available here.
Information about U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week can be found here.
