Antibiotic Resistance: A Growing Threat to Public Health November 18-24 is U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week

“We’re constantly learning about new infections that are becoming harder and harder to treat, and the drugs that we do have aren't working anymore."

WAUSAU, Wis. – Every year, over 2.8 million people in the U.S. contract infections due to antibiotic resistance, resulting in more than 35,000 deaths. During U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week, Aspirus Health is drawing attention to the escalating crisis of antibiotic resistance — a global public health threat that is putting the effectiveness of antibiotics at risk and making infections harder to treat.

Kelly Zander, System Antimicrobial Stewardship Coordinator at Aspirus Health, explains, "Antibiotic resistance is considered an urgent global public health threat that is consistently getting worse by the day. We’re constantly learning about new infections that are becoming harder and harder to treat, and the drugs that we do have aren't working anymore." This growing issue is felt across communities nationwide, and Zander notes that even in the Aspirus Health service area, “we do see these patterns emerging.”

A major cause of antibiotic resistance is the misuse of antibiotics, including taking them for illnesses like the common cold or flu, where they are ineffective. Additionally, failing to complete prescribed antibiotic courses contributes to the survival of resistant bacteria. The overuse of antibiotics in agriculture also compounds the problem.

To protect the power of antibiotics, Zander urges people to adopt simple yet effective preventive measures.

"Good hand hygiene, staying healthy through diet and exercise, and allowing your body time to heal naturally when you're sick can all help minimize unnecessary exposure to antibiotics," she says.

As U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week reminds us, we all have a role in reducing antibiotic resistance. Zander stresses, “The antibiotics that we do have are powerful drugs that we need to use responsibly. We all need to be aware and know that we can play a part in this.”

Aspirus Health encourages the public to learn more about antibiotic resistance and how we can all help preserve the effectiveness of these life-saving medications.

For more information on antibiotic awareness, visit https://www.cdc.gov.