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18-24 November: World Antimicrobial Awareness Week

  • 19 Nov 2021

World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) is observed every year from 18-24 November to increase awareness of global antimicrobial resistance, encourage best practices among the general public, health workers and policymakers to avoid the further emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections.

  • The theme for the 2021 observance is “Spread Awareness, Stop Resistance”.

What are Antimicrobials?

  • Antimicrobials refer to medicines that are used to prevent and treat infections in humans, animals and plants caused by bacteria, virus, fungus and parasites. Antimicrobials therefore are blanket terms that include anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-parasites.
  • ‘Antibacterial’ includes drugs that are derived from bacteria or mold or are synthesized. Antibiotics refer only to such antimicrobials that are produced from bacteria or molds but now the term antibiotic is also referred to when meaning ‘antibacterial drug’.

Antimicrobial Resistance

  • Antimicrobial resistance also referred to as AMR happens when bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites change over time and do not respond to medicines.
  • Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been declared as one of the top 10 global health threats by the World Health Organization (WHO).

‘Go Blue for AMR’ Campaign

  • An international colour campaign has also been launched this year by the AMR tripartite organisations (World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World organisation for Animal Health) to help spread awareness about antimicrobial resistance.
  • The new Go Blue for AMR campaign calls upon individuals, organisations and communities to mark the week by going blue. This can involve illuminating prominent building / landmarks/monuments in light blue, or wearing blue in WAAW events or adjusting social media profiles to blue.