Online Program

Oral

Antimicrobial resistance is a major threat to public health worldwide. Infections with multi drug-resistant pathogens increase the risk for severe illness, prolonged hospitalizations, expensive alternative therapies, and may even result in death. Although there are multiple causes, unnecessary use of antibiotics for acute upper respiratory infections is one of the forces driving emergence of drug-resistant bacterial pathogens. This session will highlight strategies of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work in the Community” program to provide community and healthcare education, and provider tools to counter inappropriate antibiotic use. Presentations will cover a wide array of ongoing partnerships including those among professional societies, academic institutions, health plans and international organizations. This session will highlight lessons learned from state-based programs in multiple jurisdictions. In addition, the session will highlight use of the web, mass media and social media during the 2012 Get Smart Know Week (November 12-18) and a preview of 2013 activities will be described.

Session Objectives: •Identify three factors that drive inappropriate use of antibiotics in young children and adults •Highlight three partnerships forged by Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work Program to promote judicious use of the antibiotics in the community •Summarize three examples of state-based initiatives focused on increasing awareness about appropriate use of antibiotics •Review at least three lessons learned during use of Web and social media to promote judicious use of antibiotics

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)