Tips on effective infection prevention and how to safely dispose of leftover antibiotics
It’s antibiotic awareness week from Monday, November 18 through Sunday, November 24!
Effective Infection Prevention
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 1 in every 10 patients is affected by healthcare-associated infections. This can include pneumonia, urinary tract infections, surgical-site infections, and bloodstream infections. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), someone in the United States gets an antibiotic-resistant infection every 11 seconds. Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria develop the ability to overcome the drugs that are designed to get rid of them.
Effective infection prevention and control as well as proper hand hygiene can go a long way in stopping the spread of antibiotic-resistant organisms. This will ultimately lead to a reduced need for antibiotics.
How can you help protect yourself and your loved ones?
- Practice good hand hygiene.
- Get vaccinated and encourage your friends and family to do so.
- If you are prescribed antibiotics by your healthcare provider, take them exactly as prescribed for the entire course of duration. Stopping a course of antibiotics early can contribute to antibiotic resistance.
- Find a local hospital in your area that is providing an “antibiotic take-back” service to assist in collecting expired and unused labeled antibiotics. For more information, visit the FDA’s page on Drug Disposal and Take Back Locations.
