U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week (USAAW), November 17-23, is an annual observance that highlights the steps everyone can take to improve antibiotic prescribing and use.
The Memorial Hospital Team is committed to professional excellence in providing safe, quality healthcare, compassion and service to patients, the community and each other. It is with this mission in mind, Memorial Hospital supports the development of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program.
Optimizing the use of antibiotics is critical to effectively treat infections, protect patients from harm caused by unnecessary antibiotic use, and combat antibiotic resistance. The Memorial Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship team works with our team of providers to improve clinical outcomes by improving antibiotic prescribing.
Improving the way healthcare professionals prescribe antibiotics, and the way we take antibiotics, helps keep us healthy now, helps fight antibiotic resistance, and ensures that these lifesaving drugs will be available for future generations.
Antibiotics are only needed for treating certain infections caused by bacteria. Viral illnesses cannot be treated with antibiotics. When an antibiotic is not prescribed, ask your healthcare professional for tips on how to relieve symptoms and feel better.
Antibiotics aren’t always the answer. Know the facts and what questions to ask your healthcare professional.
Anytime antibiotics are used, they can cause side effects. When antibiotics aren’t needed, they won’t help you, and the side effects could still hurt you.