Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health today. It is rising to dangerously high levels in all parts of the world, compromising our ability to treat infectious diseases and undermining many advances in health and medicine. Without effective antibiotics even routine treatments will become increasingly dangerous.

Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change in response to the use of antibiotics. This happens naturally but the over-use and misuse of antibiotics has accelerated the process, leading to record high levels of antibiotic resistance.

November 18 – 24 is the World Antibiotic Awareness Week, and Oxford Health is joining the global campaign to keep antibiotics working.

“It is not too late to reduce the impact of antibiotic resistance and we all have a part to play in preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics, said Maleeha Bari, medication safety officer and medicines management pharmacist at Oxford Health.

“By reducing the spread of infections and changing how we produce, prescribe and use these medicines we can reduce the impact and limit the spread of antibiotic resistance.” 

This checklist can help you play your part.