CDC Talks "Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance Takes All of Us" With ICT

Fighting AMR Takes All of Us

In 2024, US Antibiotic Awareness Week (USAAW), observed from November 18–24, brings together individuals and organizations to highlight the importance of appropriate antibiotic and antifungal use and the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

This year, the CDC’s theme, “Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance Takes All of Us,” emphasizes a One Health approach, recognizing the interconnected health of people, animals, plants, and the environment. AMR is a global public health crisis, contributing to over 1.27 million deaths annually worldwide, including nearly 48,000 in the US when Clostridioides difficile is included. Preventing infections and ensuring the responsible use of antibiotics and antifungals are critical to slowing resistance.

To learn more about antimicrobial-resistant infections and the USAAW, Infection Control Today^® (ICT^®) connected with Michael Craig, MA, CDC’s AMR Coordination and Strategy Unit Director.

ICT: What are the key objectives of this year’s US Antibiotic Awareness Week, and how does the theme “Fighting AMR Takes All of Us” reflect the CDC’s broader strategy?

Michael Craig, MA: US Antibiotic Awareness Week (USAAW) is a nationwide effort seeking to raise awareness of the importance of appropriate antibiotic and antifungal use and bring focus to the threat AMR poses to people, animals, plants, and our shared environment. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) happens when pathogens (germs) like bacteria and fungi develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them. That means the pathogens are not killed and continue to grow. Resistant infections can be difficult, and sometimes impossible, to treat.

AMR can affect anyone, anywhere, at any stage of life. Antimicrobial-resistant infections are estimated to kill more than 1 million globally each year—more than HIV/AIDS or malaria. To protect everyone, we must slow the development and spread of AMR by preventing infections from happening in the first place. Access to clean water and adequate sanitation, vaccination coverage, and access to quality health care can prevent infections and the spread of AMR worldwide. We must also improve antibiotic and antifungal use and increase awareness and understanding of what everyone can do to fight AMR.

This year’s theme, "Fighting AMR Takes All of Us,” highlights the importance of using a One Health approach to combat AMR, which recognizes people's health is closely connected to the health of animals and our shared environment. Working together, we can improve the global prescribing and use of antibiotic and antifungal drugs and invest in global actions to prevent the spread of AMR across humans, animals, plants, and the environment (soil, water).

ICT: AMR is often described as a silent pandemic. What progress has been made globally since the last United Nations High-level Meeting on AMR, and how does the CDC contribute to these efforts?

MC: Global leaders gathered in New York City in September 2024 for the second United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-level Meeting on AMR. This important meeting provided the CDC and global partners with the platform to continue working together to identify and commit to actions needed to combat AMR. Global leaders adopted a political declaration establishing global goals, commitments, and targets, including a significant goal of reducing global deaths associated with bacterial AMR by ten percent by 2030.

The political declaration also identified and highlighted the importance of specific prevention interventions in health care and communities, including:

• Immunization (reduces infections and antimicrobial use)
• Early and accurate detection of pathogens
• Infection prevention and control
• Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)

Since the UNGA high-level meeting, the CDC has focused on turning these commitments into actions. US government agencies continue to lead critical activities with partners to combat AMR domestically and globally. CDC is leading efforts to tackle the threat by driving aggressive action and empowering the nation to respond comprehensively to AMR. CDC invests in national infrastructure to detect, respond, contain, and prevent antimicrobial-resistant infections through CDC’s AMR Solutions Initiative. We support efforts to slow the spread of resistance in all 50 state health departments, several local health departments, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. We have also invested in innovative AMR projects in more than 60 countries. These investments are highlighted online on CDC’s AR Investment Map.

ICT: The One Health approach plays a crucial role in addressing AMR. Can you elaborate on how this approach integrates human, animal, and environmental health, particularly during USAAW?

MC: AMR is a One Health problem that can affect the health of people, animals, and the environment. Antimicrobial-resistant germs can quickly spread through communities, the food supply, health care facilities, and the environment (eg, soil, water). CDC uses a One Health approach by involving experts in human, animal, environmental health, and other relevant disciplines and sectors to learn about how diseases spread so we can monitor and control public health threats and drive effective action among people, animals, plants, and the environment.

The CDC recognizes that no single group can effectively combat AMR alone. The themes highlighted during the week of USAAW champion using a One-Health approach to protect different groups impacted by AMR. USAAW is one way the CDC works with domestic and international partners to achieve optimal health outcomes. It also collaborates across the US Government and other countries to build strong partnerships with human, animal, and environmental health organizations.

ICT: How can individuals and communities contribute to the fight against AMR, and what practical steps can they take to promote responsible antibiotic use?

MC: Preventing infections is our first line of defense against AMR. The CDC’s website provides ways for health departments, health care providers, and veterinarians to combat AMR. But as the USAAW theme says, fighting AMR requires all of us.

Everyone has a role in combating this public health threat. There are steps you can take to reduce your risk of infection and help stop the spread of germs by:

• Talking with a health care provider or veterinarian about the best treatment when you, your family, or an animal is sick.
• Taking medication as prescribed if your health care provider prescribes an antibiotic or antifungal for you. Do not share your medication with others or save them for later. Talk to your pharmacist about safely discarding leftover medicines. Health care professionals should always prescribe the right antibiotic at the right dose, for the right duration, and at the right time.
• Staying up to date on recommended vaccines. Vaccines help prevent infections and reduce the need for medicines like antibiotics in the first place.
• Keeping your hands clean. It is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent spreading germs to others. Soap and water or hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol do a great job.
• Keeping cuts covered and clean until they are healed.
• Covering your coughs and sneezes to prevent the spread of respiratory infections.
• Preparing food safely to prevent foodborne illnesses. Keep surface areas and utensils clean. Cook foods to safe temperatures and chill leftovers.
• Preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs).Learn aboutsafer sex options, such as using condoms the right way to lower your risk of getting a drug-resistant sexually transmitted infection. If you test positive for an STI, you and your partner should be treated right away.

If we all work to improve antibiotic and antifungal prescribing and use and take action to prevent antimicrobial-resistant infections, our collective actions can reduce the spread of AMR globally.

ICT: As landmarks across the country light up in purple to raise awareness, what role do public engagement and the media play in combating AMR, and how can media partners best support this initiative?

MC: One consistent challenge in addressing public health threats is raising awareness—getting people to understand and take action to protect themselves and their families. Increasing awareness and understanding of what everyone can do to combat AMR is critical to protecting everyone and slowing the development and spread of this threat.

The CDC communicates about the threat of AMR through efforts like US Antibiotic Awareness Week (USAAW). Participation from communities across the US, along with partner organizations—including US federal agencies, health departments, professional societies, corporations, and patient and family representatives—is critical to our efforts to raise awareness and inform the public. Each year, hundreds of organizations participate in USAAW in various ways—from lighting up landmarks to participating in activities and events to distributing CDC materials, graphics, and messaging.

The CDC’s US Antibiotic Awareness Week emphasizes a One Health approach, uniting humans, animals, and environmental health to fight antimicrobial resistance and promote responsible antibiotic use.