U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week

November 18-24, 2024 

U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week is an annual observance that raises awareness of the threat of antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic use.

The observance is a partnership between the CDC, state-based programs (such as the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Healthcare-Associated Infections/Antibiotic Resistance Team), and non-profit/for-profit partners.

The purpose of the observance is to raise awareness of the importance of appropriate antibiotic and antifungal use and the threat antimicrobial resistance poses to people, animals, plants, and their shared environment.

CDC’s theme for USAAW 2024 is “Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance Takes All of Us.” CDC champions using a One Health approach to fight antimicrobial resistance, which recognizes the health of people is closely connected to the health of animals, plants, and their shared environment. Working together, we must improve the global prescribing and use of antibiotic and antifungal drugs and invest in global infection prevention actions across the health of humans, animals, plants, and the environment (for example soil and water).

Learn more: U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week (USAAW) | Antimicrobial Resistance | CDC

Outpatient Antibiotic Use in Nebraska

Outpatient antibiotic prescribing rates vary widely across the United States, which suggests that there are stewardship opportunities for healthcare providers, facility and healthcare system leadership, and other partners to improve how antibiotics are used. Monitoring of outpatient antibiotic prescribing data is regularly conducted by CDC to better understand trends in outpatient antibiotic prescribing, identify where interventions to improve prescribing are most needed, and measure progress.

In 2022, Nebraska’s prescribing rate was reported by the CDC as 824 prescriptions per 1,000 population. In 2022, Nebraska was the 8th highest antibiotic prescribing state. The lowest prescribing rate in the nation was 403 antibiotic prescriptions per 1,000 population – Nebraska prescribes more than double that rate!

All Antibiotic Classes | A.R. & Patient Safety Portal (cdc.gov)

Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship in Nebraska

Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs use the Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs as a framework for implementation. In 2022, 93% of Nebraska hospitals reported meeting all 7 Core Elements on the annual National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Survey. (n=88)

Hospitals also have the Priorities for Hospital Core Element Implementation as a way to further their antibiotic stewardship efforts, particularly when all 7 Core Elements have been met. Below is a summary of the implementation of the 6 Core Element Priorities in Nebraska in 2023.

If your hospital is not meeting all 7 Core Elements, Nebraska ASAP is here to help!
Send our team a message at Contact Us – ASAP (nebraskamed.com)

Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship | A.R. & Patient Safety Portal (cdc.gov)

Nursing Home Antibiotic Stewardship in Nebraska

Nursing Home Antibiotic Stewardship Programs use the Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship for Nursing Homes as a framework for implementation.

In 2022, 76 Nebraska nursing homes completed the NHSN annual survey, and 76% of those facilities reported meeting all seven Core Elements. This is a large increase from 2021, where 56% of facilities reported meeting all Core Elements.

Progress is being made in Nebraska nursing homes to improve antibiotic use!

If your nursing home is not meeting all 7 Core Elements, Nebraska ASAP can help!
Send our team a message at Contact Us – ASAP (nebraskamed.com)

Long-term Care Antibiotic Stewardship | A.R. & Patient Safety Portal (cdc.gov)

How can you Be Antibiotics Aware?

Nebraska ASAP invites healthcare stakeholders, providers as well as consumers to share the important Be Antibiotics Aware message during this weeklong observance by:

 Sharing social media messages via
• Facebook (@Nebraska ICAP & ASAP)
• LinkedIn (@Nebraska ICAP & ASAP)
 Go Purple! CDC is inviting communities to help recognize USAAW by getting people to wear purple, bring purple to their social media accounts, or light up significant or important buildings or monuments in their community during the week.
 Bookmarking and sharing postings from the Nebraska ASAP blog and the UNMC ID Division blog
 Signing up for Nebraska ASAP updates including the Nebraska ASAP Newsletter
 Including information about U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week in your institution’s print and electronic newsletters
 Printing and sharing Handouts and Posters with healthcare providers and consumers
 Playing Videos on TV screens in medical offices, waiting rooms, and pharmacies

Nebraska ICAP and ASAP look forward to your participation in U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week from November 18 to 24!

Written by Jenna Preusker, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP
Nebraska ASAP Pharmacy Coordinator