US Antibiotic Awareness Week: What dental teams need to know
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing public health threat that affects patient care across human health, animal health, agriculture, and the environment. During US Antibiotic Awareness Week (USAAW), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights how every sector, including dentistry, can help preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics and antifungals.
Go purple this week
The CDC is encouraging families, practices, and communities to help spotlight antimicrobial resistance by joining the Go Purple for USAAW campaign. The goal is to raise awareness of the role everyone plays in combating resistance.
Ways to participate include:
- Wear purple during USAAW, November 18–24.
- Light up your building or landmark in purple. If you need a specific shade, use Pantone 2735 C or Pantone 2725.
- Add purple to your digital presence by using CDC-provided graphics on your website or social channels.
- Share Go Purple resources to help spread awareness within your team and community.
Here's an overview of each day’s themes and activities that dental professionals might want to participate in.
November 18: Fighting antimicrobial resistance takes all of us
- Everyone has a role in slowing AMR, including oral health professionals who prescribe antibiotics.
- A One Health approach connects human, animal, plant, and environmental health. Strengthening antibiotic and antifungal stewardship across these areas protects patients and communities.
November 19: Human health and antimicrobial resistance
- Antibiotic and antifungal drugs are essential, but any use can contribute to resistance or cause harm.
- Clinicians should help patients understand what antibiotics do, and do not, treat.
- The national antibiotic use and stewardship report provides data to guide improved prescribing.
November 20: Animal health and antimicrobial resistance
- Good hygiene and preventive care for pets help reduce the spread of germs, including resistant organisms.
- Veterinarians play a key role in appropriate antibiotic and antifungal prescribing.
- Animals can carry resistant organisms that spread through homes, farms, and communities, reinforcing the need for One Health collaboration.
November 21: Agriculture, the environment, and antimicrobial resistance
- Antibiotics and antifungals used in agriculture can contaminate water and soil, accelerating the development of resistance.
- Using antibiotics and fungicides as pesticides can spread resistance across plants, animals, and people.
November 22: One Health approach to antimicrobial resistance
- AMR affects humans, animals, and the environment. Slowing it requires collaboration across all three.
- Coordinated efforts prevent infections and improve antibiotic and antifungal prescribing worldwide.
November 23: Safe travel and antimicrobial resistance
- Travelers should understand how to reduce their infection risk through vaccines, hand hygiene, safe food and water practices, and informed antibiotic use.
- CDC’s Traveler’s Health website provides updated notices and preparation guidance.
November 24: Continuing the fight against antimicrobial resistance
- USAAW concludes, but AMR remains a year-round priority.
- CDC continues to invest in national systems that detect, respond to, and prevent antimicrobial-resistant infections across health care, communities, food systems, and the environment.
- Dental professionals can explore CDC’s AMR resources and take actionable steps to support stewardship within their practices.
Activities and learning opportunities
November 19
Webinar: Navigating the fungal landscape: antifungal stewardship in action
10 a.m. MST / noon EST
Speaker: Dallas Smith, CDC
Registration link available from CDC.
November 20
Webinar: Antibiotic stewardship in dentistry: trends, best practices, and integration into the daily flow of dentistry
9 a.m. MST / 11 a.m. EST
Speaker: Emily McDonald, CDC
Registration link available from CDC.
November 21
Webinar: Cancer and AMR: A roundtable discussion
Noon EST
Speaker: Michael Craig, CDC
Registration link available from CIDRAP.
View the Be Antibiotics Aware Partner Toolkit.