World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) 2024 is observed from 18 to 24 November to increase awareness about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and encourage responsible use of antimicrobial medicines. It emphasizes a One Health approach, addressing human, animal, and environmental health.
Key Focus:
Highlighting the dangers of AMR, where microbes (like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites) become resistant to medicines, rendering treatments ineffective.
Encouraging governments, healthcare providers, and individuals to adopt policies and practices that reduce AMR.
Examples:
Overuse of Antibiotics in Humans:
Misusing antibiotics for viral infections like the flu can promote resistant bacterial strains.
Antibiotics in Agriculture:
Excessive use of antibiotics in livestock for growth promotion leads to AMR, which can transfer to humans through the food chain.
Inadequate Infection Control:
Poor sanitation and hygiene can spread resistant pathogens, especially in healthcare settings.
Efforts like proper hand hygiene, prescription adherence, and limiting unnecessary antibiotic use are crucial to combating AMR globally.
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