The emergence and spread of highly-resistant bacteria, especially those resistant to ‘last-line’ antibiotics, such as carbapenems and colistin, is a grave public health concern and a threat to patient safety and economies in Europe and globally.
The European Food Safety Authority, the European Medicines Agency and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control are concerned about the impact of use of antibiotics on the increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The report presents new data on antibiotic consumption and antibiotic resistance and reflects improved surveillance across Europe.
e-Bug, in collaboration with the Kingfisher Treasure Seekers community group, has developed a 6-week community hygiene and self-care course called “Beat the Bugs”, to help tackle inappropriate antibiotic use within the community.
The toolkit offers template materials and advice on how campaign organisers could engage with the general public so as to promote appropriate and responsible use of antibiotics.
The toolkit contains template materials and key messages for health professionals, ideas for awareness raising activities, and suggested tactics for getting the messages across to both primary care providers and patients.
Social media activities that could be undertaken as part of national prudent antibiotic use campaigns, targeting the general public, primary care prescribers and hospital prescribers.