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TRENTON – The New Jersey Department of Health is joining agencies and organizations throughout the country in observing U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week, which began Nov. 12.
According to a release, the week-long observance is intended to educate the public about proper antibiotic use and the prevention of antibiotic-resistant infections.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which spearheads U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week, up to one-half of antibiotic use is either unnecessary or inappropriate.
This creates additional health risks by increasing the chances that a patient will experience adverse drug reactions. More than two million people in the United States get infections that are resistant to antibiotics annually, and at least 23,000 people die as a result, according to the CDC.
Health Commissioner Dr. Shereef Elnahal noted that antibiotic overuse increases the development of drug-resistant germs and drives up the cost and complexity of treating simple infections.
As a result, bacteria stop responding to drugs designed to kill them, increasing the risk of serious illness and death when these infections cannot be treated.
“Antibiotics are powerful medicines used to combat life-threatening bacterial diseases, but their use can lead to bacteria becoming immune to these drugs, and antibiotic overuse poses a significant public health threat,” Elnahal stated. “That is why we urge patients to take every precaution to reduce the chances of developing antibiotic-resistant infections.”
To minimize the impact of antibiotic resistance, New Jerseyans should:
Only take antibiotics prescribed to them, and take them as recommended;
Implement proper hand hygiene as part of their daily routine and receive recommended vaccinations to prevent infections that might require antibiotic treatment;
Discuss concerns about antibiotic resistance with their health care provider.
The CDC is hosting a Twitterstorm Nov. 15 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Join the conversation by following the Twitter handle @CDCgov and using the hashtag #AntibioticResistance. DOH will also be using the following hashtags throughout the week: #NJAntibioticsAware #BeAntibioticsAware #USAAW18
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