Antimicrobial Awareness Week (AAW) is endorsed globally by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and occurs every year in November. Helping raise awareness of antimicrobial resistance can help us recruit antimicrobial stewardship champions to collaboratively tackle the developing issue of antimicrobial resistance.
Resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites stop responding to medications used to treat them. This can make it more difficult to treat life-threatening infections. You can watch this quick video explanation.
Resistance to antimicrobials occurs because of overuse or inappropriate use of these medicines. This quick video from WHO explains more.
How can I help prevent resistance?
- Prevent infections – promote vaccination and good hand hygiene.
- Treat appropriately – ensure antimicrobials are prescribed appropriately. Treat infections using evidence-based guidelines: local Monash Health PROMPT guidelines and national Therapeutic Guidelines.
Help us to help you
Join us in celebrating AAW. Here is how you can get involved:
- Photo competition – send us a photo of your team’s traffic light colour day or your team representing AAW in another way. The best photo wins a prize! All entries should be sent to ams@monashhealth.org by 5pm Thursday 25 November.
- Employees are encouraged to wear traffic lights colours to work on Wednesday 24 November.
If you have any questions about Antimicrobial Resistance, you can contact Monash Health’s Antimicrobial Stewardship team.
Approved by Jess Hughes, Kylie Horne and Mark Sheppard