“Antibiotics: handle with care,” is the message being sent out this World Antibiotic Awareness Week, from November 16-22. The idea is to increase awareness of the growing antibiotic resistance across the world and to encourage best practices among the public, health workers and policy-makers to avoid the further emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance.
A global action plan to tackle the growing resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines was endorsed at the 68th World Health Assembly in May.
Antibiotics are a precious resource and should be preserved, the World Health Organisation said. They should be used to treat bacterial infections, only when prescribed by a certified health professional.