“Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future” – Antimicrobial and Antibiotic Awareness

The HSE Dublin and South East has been marking Antimicrobial Awareness Week (18 to 24 November, 2025).

This World Health Organisation (WHO) global campaign aims to raise awareness and understanding of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and promote best practices wherever antimicrobials are used, helping to reduce the emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections.

The HSE Dublin and South East also marked European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD) on 18 November. EAAD is a European Union health initiative that provides a platform to support national campaigns on the prudent use of antibiotics.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial agents. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents become ineffective and infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.

The theme for the World AMR Awareness Week 2025 is “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future”.

Those working on AMR awareness attended an information stand at the recent “My Voice, My Choice – Supporting Meaningful Participation in Safeguarding and Self Advocacy” regional conference held in Kilkenny (organised by the HSE and attended by over 200 delegates from the statutory, voluntary sector and community sector).

Catherine Mannion (Senior Antimicrobial Pharmacist/Community Healthcare services, HSE Dublin and South East) has also presented this week to NCHDs at the Dept. of Psychiatry mental health inpatient unit at University Hospital Waterford and to pharmacy technicians in training at SETU in Carlow.

Speaking about these AMR Awareness events and an information day she attended at the HSE’s Cluain Árann Welfare Home and Community Nursing Unit in Tipperary Town, Catherine Mannion said:

“Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a pressing global health and socioeconomic crisis. It has significant impacts on human and animal health, food production and the environment. Drug-resistant-pathogens pose a threat to everyone, everywhere. Yet, much more can be done to raise public and stakeholder awareness.”

“Across the Carlow-Kilkenny/Tipperary South and Waterford/Wexford areas, a baseline audit of Antimicrobial Usage in all HSE older persons residential care facilities, rehab facilities and short term residential beds in the community was carried out in 2020. This baseline audit showed a high rate of antimicrobial usage in these settings, 15% compared to national rates of 12% and European rates of 5%. Antimicrobial Stewardship has since been introduced into these settings. The rate of antimicrobial usage has since fallen by more than a third, which is more in line with the current national average of 8%. There remains more work to be done.”

“Nationally, the HSE’s Primary Care Reimbursement Service monitor GP prescribing of antimicrobials, with a focus on increasing prescription of green antimicrobials which are less likely to cause antimicrobial resistance and are safer for patients. In the latest national report, 71% of all GMS antibiotics for the previous 12 months prescribed up to the end of June 2025 were green antimicrobials in the HSE’s Dublin and South East health region. This is almost at the national target of 72% and is very positive feedback for local GPs.”

“We all have a part to play on how to use antimicrobials appropriately. The time to act is now, to ensure that we and also future generations have effective antimicrobials to fight infections.”