Antibiotics aren’t always the answer.
Antibiotics are a powerful tool. Used properly, they can cure life-threatening infections. But overusing antibiotics has caused some bacteria to develop resistance. As much as 50% of prescribed antibiotics are unnecessary or ineffective as prescribed.
Losing antibiotic effectiveness seriously limits our ability to fight disease. We need your help. Use these resources to learn about and promote judicious antibiotic use.
Appropriate antibiotic use
- Adult-appropriate antibiotic use—Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Child-appropriate antibiotic use—CDC.
- Antibiotic prescribing and use—CDC.
Carbapenem-resistant enterobacteria
- Carbapenem-resistant enterobacteria (CRE)—Washington State Department of Health (DOH).
- CRE/carbapenem-resistant organism (CRO) reporting and surveillance—DOH.
- Multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) dashboard—DOH.
- What to do if you identify a targeted MDRO case in your hospital or nursing home—DOH.
- MDRO quick reference guide and job aid—DOH.
Patient resources
- Virus or bacteria—what’s got you sick?—CDC.
- Antibiotic awareness videos—DOH.
- Antibiotic resistance—DOH.
Additional links and resources
- Drug resistance—CDC.
- Center for Veterinary Medicine.
- Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)—World Health Organization (WHO).
- AMR fact sheet—WHO.
- WHO.
- Protecting patients and stopping outbreaks—CDC.