On November 8th, Governor Pete Ricketts signed a Proclamation in the Nebraska State Capitol declaring November 13 to 19, 2017 Antibiotic Awareness Week which coincides with CDC efforts to highlight the same issue.  The proclamation signing was largely due to the efforts of Dr. Maureen Tierney, leader of the Nebraska’s Healthcare Associated Infections Program, who prepared and submitted the initial draft of the Proclamation to the Governor’s office.

In attendance were Dr. Tom Williams (Director of Public Health and Chief Medical Officer), Jennifer Roberts-Johnson (Deputy Director of Public Health), Dr. Tom Safranek (State Epidemiologist), and representatives from ASAP (Dr. M. Salman Ashraf, Phil Chung, Kate Tyner, Teri Fitzgerald, and Sue Beach), MDstewardship, the Nebraska Hospital Association, the Nebraska Healthcare Association, the Great Plains QIN/QIO, and other members of the Nebraska Department of Public Health.  During her speech at the Proclamation Signing Ceremony, Dr. Tierney spoke about the consequences of inappropriate antibiotic use and the need for antibiotic stewardship.

The full Proclamation signed by Governor Ricketts reads:

“WHEREAS, the CDC has declared the week of Nov 13th through the 19th U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week as a way to improve antibiotic stewardship in communities, in healthcare facilities, and on the farm in collaboration with state-based programs; and 

WHEREAS, the Nebraska Department of Public Health’s Healthcare Associated Infections program is dedicated to the reduction of antibiotic resistance, a major threat to the public health; and

WHEREAS, the inappropriate use of antibiotics may lead to further antibiotic resistance and an increase in untoward complications such as C. difficile; and

WHEREAS, the observance of Antibiotic Awareness Week will help patients be antibiotics aware and support smart use of antibiotics by prescribers. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Pete Richetts, Governor of the State of Nebraska, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM the week of November 13, 2017 as ANTIBIOTIC AWARENESS WEEK in Nebraska, and I do hereby urge all citizens to take due note of the observance.”

Formerly known as Get Smart About Antibiotic Week, Antibiotic Awareness Week is an annual observance designated by the CDC to increase awareness of appropriate antibiotic use in the United States.

The Nebraska ASAP and UNMC Division of Infectious Diseases will be sending out important information to raise awareness of appropriate antibiotic use during Antibiotic Awareness Week.

Photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/governorpetericketts.

Written by Phil Chung, PharmD, MS, BCPS