EU Calendar

The annual European Antibiotic Awareness Day aims to provide an opportunity for awareness raising about the threat to public health of antibiotic resistance and about how to use antibiotics responsibly.

Belgium, which holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU, is commemorating the day by launching its national campaign on responsible antibiotic usage, 'Warning: only use if needed’. It is also scheduling a session of the European Parliament within the framework of its presidency.

The latest data confirms that across the European Union the number of patients infected by resistant bacteria is increasing and that antibiotic resistance is a major threat to public health.

Thus, the objective of the European Antibiotic Awareness Day in 2010 is to support efforts at national level to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use in hospitals through the development and dissemination of educational materials promoting prudent antibiotic use.

The Day is targeted at the general public as well as primary care providers, with member states organising their own inititatives and campaigns.