International Infection Prevention Week, which takes place the third week of October each year, raises awareness of the role infection prevention plays to improve patient safety. The 2017 theme for International Infection Prevention Week is Antibiotic Resistance.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year in the United States, at least 2 million people become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and at least 23,000 people die each year as a direct result of these infections. A growing list of infections are becoming harder to treat as antibiotics become less effective.
This infographic illustrates when antibiotics work and when they don’t, explains what can happen if antibiotics are used improperly, and shows that you play a key role in preventing the spread of antibiotic-resistant organisms. It highlights a fact sheet on antibiotic resistance, which includes the top 5 questions you should ask your healthcare professionals about antibiotics.
Download this infographic.
Access the Spanish version here. Access the Italian version here.