This week, Nov. 13-19 was U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week and World Antibiotic Awareness Week. To accompany the efforts of this week, as well as Antibiotic Awareness efforts throughout the entire year, the CDC released Be Antibiotics Aware: Smart Use, Best Care, a national educational effort to continue to combat antibiotic resistance and protect patients from unnecessary side effects. Prescribing the right dose of the right antibiotic at the right time, and for the right duration helps fight antibiotic resistance, protects patients from unnecessary side effects from antibiotics, and helps make sure life-saving antibiotics will work when we need them in the future.

 Five Ways to Support Be Antibiotics Aware

1. Download and distribute new Be Antibiotics Aware educational materials.
2. Watch and share "The Right Tool" TV Public Service Announcement.
3. Post the Be Antibiotics Aware web buttons to your website or blog.
4. Use the "drop-in" articles in e-blasts, newsletters, and other publications.
5. Use social media to spark conversation. Such as: Follow @cdcgov, @cdc_ncezid, and www.facebook.com/cdc. ; Use official hashtags: #BeAntibioticsAware and #USAAW17 for the observance week. ; Share new Be Antibiotics Aware social media graphics. ; Add the Be Antibiotics Aware Twibbon and Facebook Frame to your social media profile picture. ; Register now for the Be Antibiotics Aware Thunderclap happening today at noon ET. ; Join CDC on the Global Twitter chat on Thursday, November 16 at 1pm ET using #AntibioticResistance.

Visit the Transatlantic Taskforce on Antimicrobial Resistance (TATFAR) page to learn how members are observing World Antibiotics Awareness Week. Learn more at here.