European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD) 2023

European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD) is a European health initiative coordinated by ECDC. It provides a platform and support for national campaigns on the prudent use of antibiotics in the EU/EEA and take place each year across Europe on 18 November. EAAD is organised in partnership with the World AMR Awareness Week, organised annually by the World Health Organization from 18 to 24 November. 

This focus for 2023 was on the targets for 2030 established in the recently adopted Council Recommendation on stepping up EU actions to combat antimicrobial resistance in a One Health approach. These are concrete and measurable targets to monitor progress and achieve goals related to the prevention and reduction of antimicrobial resistance up to 2030. 

More than 35 000 people die from antimicrobial-resistant infections in the EU/EEA each year, according to a 2022 report, which is an increase from previous estimates. The health impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is comparable to that of influenza, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS combined.

Social media ambassadors and national resources 

ECDC collaborates with social media ambassadors in EU/EEA countries. These ambassadors share content and raise awareness about antimicrobial resistance, prudent use of antibiotics and EAAD overall between 18 and 24 November in their national languages. EAAD is marked each year on 18 November across EU/EEA countries, with specific materials, contents and events.

Check what is being done this year by the social media ambassadors and at national level in the map below: 

View this year's materials and get involved