Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness

Posted on December 3rd, 2025

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites evolve to resist medicines, such as antibiotics.

As a result of the drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, disability and death.

Actions everyone can take:

• Do not share antibiotics with anyone – they will not work properly and could make the problem worse.
• Follow your prescriber’s advice – antibiotics do not work on viruses like the common cold or flu or COVID-19.
• Wash your hands regularly and use paper tissues – help stop the spread of antibiotic -resistant infection.
• Take unused medicines back to a pharmacy – throwing antibiotics in bins, sinks or toilets can harm the environment.