European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD) is held annually across Europe and this year it will take place on 18 November. In Scotland, we have used posters and leaflets to encourage health and care staff, patients, residents and the public to use antibiotics wisely to preserve their effectiveness for future generations.
The Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group (SAPG), a national multi-professional NHS organisation leads on EAAD work in Scotland to improve the use of antibiotics and reduce antimicrobial resistance.
For EAAD on 18 November we have worked with colleagues in SAPG and Scottish Care to develop information aimed at care staff working in care homes and staff in community hospitals to help inform them about the important issues when using antibiotics in older people. Older people are more vulnerable to infections, receive more antibiotics than younger people and are more likely to experience adverse effects from antibiotic treatment. Earlier in 2013, we also developed a decision aid tool for all health and care settings to improve the management of urinary tract infections (UTI) which are common in older people.
Copies of the antibiotic information sheet and the UTI decision aid have been issued in Scotland to care homes for older people and community hospitals, along with copies of 'Get Well Soon' which may be of interest to residents and their families and visitors.
You can find further details about EAAD on the SAPG website, including the 'Get Well Soon' leaflet in other languages. Please contact SAPG if you require further supplies of leaflets.