Minister for Health marks European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD) 2023
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From: Department of Health
- Published on: 18 November 2023
- Last updated on: 12 April 2025
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has today marked European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD), welcoming Ireland’s continuing active engagement in this important initiative through Ireland’s second One Health National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2021-2025 (iNAP2).
EAAD is a European health initiative coordinated by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Celebrated during World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW), it is part of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) global week of action to highlight the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Minister Donnelly said:
"European Antibiotic Awareness Day highlights just how crucial antibiotics are to our health service. It is an important reminder of the need for antibiotics to be used safely and correctly to ensure that that they are effective when needed for patient care, and for the use of future generations.
"Antimicrobial Resistance is a global health threat which impacts on human health, animal health, and on our shared environment. It takes collective action to reduce this threat and I am pleased that my department continues to work closely with colleagues across these sectors to ensure that a coordinated One Health approach to tackling AMR is taken."
The Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine continue to work together on AMR policy with agencies and stakeholders across the One Health sectors – human health, animal health and the environment – to implement the actions in Ireland’s second One Health National Action Plan on AMR 2021 – 2025, known as iNAP2.
In 2023, the Department of Health conducted a mid-term review of the human health actions in iNAP2 to ensure that ongoing learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic were captured to inform the remainder of the lifecycle of the Plan.
Chief Nursing Officer, Rachel Kenna, said:
"On European Antibiotic Awareness Day, I would like to acknowledge the important work of healthcare workers and stakeholders in tackling AMR in the community.
"I am pleased to see the progress that has been made, by all the stakeholders, through the implementation of Ireland’s Action Plan, iNAP2. iNAP2 has increased awareness of the correct use and consumption of antibiotics on a national level.
"European Antibiotic Awareness Day is an important reminder for us all – patients, health and social care professionals, and the public - to do our bit to ensure responsible antibiotic use."
Chief Medical Officer, Prof. Breda Smyth said:
"Antibiotics have revolutionised the way we treat patients with bacterial infections. To protect the effectiveness of antibiotics we have to use them appropriately.
"Raising awareness of the risks of antimicrobial resistance is very important to encourage behavioural change in how antimicrobials are prescribed and used.
"Ireland is taking a ‘One Health’ approach to addressing antimicrobial resistance. Our response is in keeping with the international approach recommended by the World Health Organisation and the European Commission. The One Health approach recognises that the health and wellbeing of people is connected to the health and welfare of animals, biodiversity, and the environment."
The Department of Health published the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) National Clinical Guideline in May 2023. One of the major recommendations of this guidance is that everyone working in health services has a role to play in IPC.
As part of the 2023 European Antibiotic Awareness and International Infection Prevention week campaigns, HSE Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control (AMRIC) are hosting a free workshop for a targeted multidisciplinary audience on how to implement this guidance in the day-to-day practice of all healthcare services. Strong IPC is the most effective approach to controlling the spread of Antimicrobial Resistance. Successful IPC and AMS relies on collaboration between the healthcare team, managers and patients.
Notes
Further information on AMR and the iNAP2 publication is available on the joint AMR webpage.
What AMR is
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is resistance of a microorganism to a drug that was originally effective for treatment of infections caused by that microorganism. Resistant microorganisms (including bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites) are able to withstand attack by antimicrobial drugs, such as antibacterial drugs (for example, antibiotics), antifungals, antivirals, and antimalarials, so that standard treatments become ineffective and infections persist, increasing the risk of spread to others.
Antimicrobials are essential to the practice of modern medicine, enabling sophisticated medical interventions and treatments, such as chemotherapy and organ transplants.
What One Health is
The goal of the One Health concept is to encourage multidisciplinary collaborative efforts across different sectors such as human health, animal health, agriculture, and the environment to achieve the optimal health outcomes for people and animals. It advocates a “whole of society” approach, recognising that the health of people is connected to the health of animals and the environment. It has been acknowledged globally that a One Health approach is the most effective way to address the global AMR challenge. This is promoted by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Commission.
National Action Plans on AMR
National Action Plans on AMR are an international commitment to Member States of both the European Commission and the World Health Organisation.
Ireland’s second One Health National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2021-2025, known as iNAP2, adopts a One Health approach to tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and aligns to the five Strategic Objectives outlined in the World Health Organisation Global Action Plan (2015) and the requirements of the European Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (2017). The plan contains a range of strategic interventions and activities across the human health, animal health and environmental sectors grouped under five strategic objectives aimed at:
- improving awareness and knowledge of AMR
- enhancing surveillance of antibiotic resistance and antibiotic use
- reducing the spread of infection and disease
- optimizing the use of antibiotics in human and animal health
- promoting research and sustainable investment in new medicines, diagnostic tools, vaccines and other interventions
National Interdepartmental Antimicrobial Resistance Consultative Committee
The Department of Health has worked with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine as part of a One Health Approach to tackling AMR since 2014 when the National Interdepartmental AMR Consultative Committee was established. It is co-chaired by the Chief Medical Officer, Chief Nursing Officer, and the Chief Veterinary Officer.
The establishment of the National Interdepartmental AMR Consultative Committee meets Ireland’s requirements to have an intersectoral co-ordinating mechanism for addressing AMR at European and Global level. The committee has served as an AMR One Health committee and the membership is made up of both government departments, key stakeholders, and agencies from the three sectors.
European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD) 2023
European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD) is a European health initiative coordinated by ECDC. It provides a platform and support for national campaigns on the prudent use of antibiotics in the EU/EEA and take place each year across Europe on 18 November. EAAD is organised in partnership with the World AMR Awareness Week, organised annually by the World Health Organisation from 18-24 November.
This year’s focus will be on the targets established in the recently adopted Council Recommendation on stepping up EU actions to combat antimicrobial resistance in a One Health approach. The targets, which are concrete and measurable, are an effective way to monitor progress and achieve goals related to the prevention and reduction of antimicrobial resistance up to 2030.
European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD) 2023 (europa.eu)
World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW)
Each year, World AMR Awareness Week aims to raise awareness and inspire action around antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The global campaign takes place annually from 18-24 November. This year’s theme is “Preventing antimicrobial resistance together”.
Further information: World AMR Awareness Week 2023.