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TRENTON – The New Jersey Department of Health is partnering with agencies and organizations across the country to celebrate the United States Antibiotic Awareness Week, which began on November 12.
According to a statement, the week-long observance aims to inform the public about the proper use of antibiotics and the prevention of antibiotic-resistant infections.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which is spearheading Antibiotic Awareness Week in the United States, up to half the use of antibiotics is either unnecessary or inappropriate.
This creates additional health risks by increasing the chances that a patient will have adverse drug reactions. In the United States, more than two million people each year contract antibiotic-resistant infections, killing at least 23,000 people, according to the CDC.
Health Commissioner Dr. Shereef Elnahal noted that overconsumption of antibiotics increased the development of drug-resistant germs and increased 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 can not be treated.
"Antibiotics are powerful drugs used to fight against life-threatening bacterial diseases, but their use may drive bacteria to become immune to these drugs, and the abuse of antibiotics poses a significant threat to public health, "said Elnahal. "That's why we urge patients to take all necessary precautions to reduce the risk of contracting an antibiotic-resistant infection."
To minimize the impact of antibiotic resistance, New Jersey must:
Take only the antibiotics that have been prescribed and take them as recommended.
Put proper hand hygiene in your daily routine and receive the recommended vaccines to prevent infections that may require antibiotic treatment.
Discuss concerns about antibiotic resistance with their health care provider.
The CDC is hosting a Twitterstorm event on November 15 from 9:00 to 10:00. Join the conversation by following the @CDCgov Twitter account and using the #AntibioticResistance hashtag. DOH will also use the following hashtags throughout the week: #NJAntibioticsAware #BeAntibioticsAware # USAAW18
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