European Antibiotic Awareness Day 2017: News release

In 2016, combined resistance to several antibiotic groups continued to increase for E. coli and Acinetobacter species. This situation is of great concern as patients infected with these multidrugresistant bacteria have very limited treatment options.

On the occasion of the 10th European Antibiotic Awareness Day, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is releasing its latest EU-wide data on antibiotic resistance.

On 15 November, ECDC organises an event in Brussels to celebrate the EAAD, the event will feature an exhibition of materials from antibiotic awareness campaigns in EU/EEA countries. Watch the live stream!

ECDC features a collection of real-life stories of people whose lives were dramatically changed by antibiotic resistant superbugs - watch the videos or read their stories.

Anyone can support the social media campaign by sharing messages, pictures or videos during the week 13—19 November 2017, using the hashtag #KeepAntibioticsWorking.

The objective of this toolkit is to support efforts to increase prudent use of antibiotics in hospitals and other healthcare settings through dissemination of evidence-based educational and information materials.

Although most courses of antibiotics are consumed in the community (outside hospitals), antibiotic use in hospitals is a major driver of the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria responsible for healthcare-associated infection. 

We work together to fight antibiotic resistance keeping Europeans healthy - How do EU agencies contribute to the fight against antimicrobial resistance? See a joint EMA/ECDC/EFSA/EEA infographic