Purpose
- U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week (USAAW), every November 18-24, raises awareness of the importance of appropriate antibiotic and antifungal use and the threat antimicrobial resistance (AR) poses to people, animals, plants, and their shared environment.
- CDC offers free promotional messaging, graphics, events, and social media tools for USAAW each year.
- CDC's theme for USAAW 2026 is "Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance Takes All of Us."
Participating in USAAW
Each year, more than 300 organizations (including U.S. federal agencies, health departments, professional societies, corporations, and patient and family representatives) join CDC to participate in U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week (USAAW) from November 18-24.
CDC's theme for USAAW 2026 is Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance Takes All of Us. CDC champions using the One Health approach to fight antimicrobial resistance, recognizing the health of people closely connects to the health of animals, plants, and their shared environment (for example soil and water). A variety of resources are available below to help you participate.
Go Purple for USAAW
CDC invites families, friends, organizations, and communities nationwide to shine a spotlight on antimicrobial resistance by participating in Go Purple for USAAW. To bring awareness to the role everyone has in combating antimicrobial resistance.
- Wear purple.
- Light up buildings or landmarks in purple during November 18-24. If your organization needs a specific color of purple, use Pantone 2735 C or Pantone 2725.
- Bring purple to your social media accounts using CDC graphics.
- Use other Go Purple resources to spread the word.
Key Messages
Fighting antimicrobial resistance takes all of us
- Drug-resistant germs can spread among people, animals, healthcare settings, communities, and the environment. That's why no single action—or single person—can address antimicrobial resistance, or drug resistance, alone.
- Everyone has a role in fighting antimicrobial resistance. Find what actions you can take to fight antimicrobial resistance.
- CDC is a leader in the fight against antimicrobial resistance and invests in infrastructure to detect, respond, contain, and prevent antimicrobial-resistant infections across healthcare settings, communities, the food supply, and the environment to protect the American people and save lives.
- Data are critical to guide policy, investments, and interventions needed to combat antimicrobial resistance, and CDC's Antimicrobial Resistance Threats Report (AR Threats Report) makes data widely accessible and helps paint an accurate picture of the U.S. burden of drug-resistant infections.
Sample social media posts
- Drug-resistant germs can spread among people, animals, healthcare settings, communities, and the environment. No single action—or single person—can address drug resistance alone. Learn more for #USAAW26 bit.ly/4lVnLGF
- U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week (USAAW) is Nov. 18-24 but actions to combat #AntimicrobialResistance (AR) are needed all year long. Fighting AR takes all of us and everyone can play a role. bit.ly/4lVnLGF #USAAW26
Human health & antimicrobial resistance
- Antimicrobial resistance is an urgent global public health threat, estimated to kill over one million people globally each year and associated with nearly 5 million deaths in 2019.
- Each year in the United States, the bacteria and fungi included in CDC's AR Threats Report result in 9.7 million infections and 50,800 deaths.
- Antimicrobial resistance can affect anyone, anywhere, at any stage of live.
- Infections caused by drug-resistant germs are difficult, and sometimes impossible, to treat. While no one can completely avoid getting an infection, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk and help stop the spread of germs.
- Antibiotic and antifungal drugs are valuable tools for treating infections, but their use can contribute to antimicrobial resistance.
- Learn more about what antibiotics do and do not treat. Improving how people take antibiotics can keep them healthy from adverse events, combat antimicrobial resistance, and ensures these life-saving drugs will be available for future generations.
- Antibiotic stewards can access the latest antibiotic use and stewardship report to understand tracking of antibiotic use and stewardship implementation data to evaluate progress and improve antibiotic prescribing and use.
- Healthcare professionals and partner organizations can share these antibiotic stewardship resource bundles as part of their organization's USAAW promotional efforts.
- CDC released updated Core Elements of Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship Programs, building on the original 2016 guidance to reflect new evidence and changes in U.S. healthcare delivery. As more health care is coordinated within health systems, this update highlights health systems' central role in developing, expanding, and sustaining stewardship efforts across outpatient settings.
Sample social media posts
- CDC's 2026 AR Threats Report shows 19 bacterial and fungal threats cause 9.7 million infections each year in the U.S. Learn how preventing infections and taking antibiotics and antifungals as prescribed can help fight #AntimicrobialResistance https://arthreats.cdc.gov #USAAW26
- During U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week, learn how preventing infections in the first place and improving antibiotic and antifungal use can help slow the spread of drug resistance. bit.ly/4lVnLGF #USAAW26 #AntimicrobialResistance
- Antibiotic and antifungal drugs are valuable tools for treating infections, but any use can cause side effects and contribute to #AntimicrobialResistance (AR). Learn how the appropriate use of these drugs can help fight AR: bit.ly/4603t9S #USAAW26
Animal health & antimicrobial resistance
- Pet owners, practice healthy habits when caring for your animals like washing your hands after touching or feeding your pet.
- Try to keep your animals and pets healthy by keeping up with their vaccines, deworming, and flea and tick control. Talk with a veterinarian about what's best for your situation.
- When your pet is sick, be sure to talk to your veterinarian about antimicrobial resistance and using antibiotics and antifungals only when needed to prevent risk to your pets.
- Veterinarians can work with animal owners and producers to slow the spread of antimicrobial resistance by ensuring appropriate prescribing and use of antibiotics and antifungals and implementing infection prevention and control strategies while providing high-quality medical care for animal patients.
- Animals carry germs in their gut, including antimicrobial-resistant germs. These germs can spread between animals and in their environments—farms, in animal markets, during transport and processing—and then to people. It's important to protect the health of animals and the people who work with them, the community, and our food supply.
- There are specific infection prevention actions livestock and poultry producers can take to fight antimicrobial resistance.
Sample social media post
DYK animals, including our pets and livestock, can carry germs that can spread and contribute to #AntimicrobialResistance (AR)? Discover the simple actions you can take to protect yourself & your pet & fight AR. bit.ly/45rwCLa #USAAW26
AR in agriculture & the environment
- Human activity can contaminate the environment (for example water and soil) with antibiotics and antifungals, which can speed up the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance.
- Sometimes, people apply antibiotics and antifungals as pesticides to manage plant and crop diseases. However, using antibiotics and fungicides in agriculture can contribute to the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance in the environment, in humans, and in animals.
Sample social media post
Antibiotics and antifungals used as pesticides in agriculture can lead to contamination of the environment (e.g., water and soil). This can speed up the development and spread of #AntimicrobialResistance. Learn more: bit.ly/3HIzj1F #USAAW26
One Health approach to antimicrobial resistance
- Antimicrobial resistance can affect the health of people, animals, and the environment. One Health is an approach that recognizes the health of people closely connects to the health of animals and our shared environment.
- Everyone has a role in fighting antimicrobial resistance. Working together, using the One Health approach, we must improve the global prescribing and use of antibiotic and antifungal drugs and invest in global prevention actions across human health, animal health, plant health, and the environment (for example soil, water) to insure the health and safety of Americans.
- Our collective actions can reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance by preventing infections from happening in the first place and improving antibiotic and antifungal prescribing and use.
Social media posts
- To fight #AntimicrobialResistance (AR) we have to recognize that the health of people closely connects to the health of animals and our shared environment. Everyone plays a role in fighting AR. bit.ly/4mAMTTS.#USAAW26
- CDC takes a One Health approach to fighting #AntimicrobialResistance (AR), which requires that everyone across human, animal, and environmental health collaborate to slow its spread. Learn how we all can fight AR together. bit.ly/4mjtwyE #USAAW26
Safe travel and antimicrobial resistance
- When traveling, it's important to know how to reduce your risk of getting an infection and spreading infections.
- Travelers should talk with a healthcare provider about which vaccines are best for their situation.
- Research travel advisories. Check for health alerts and travel advisories for your destination.
- Use antibiotics and antifungals appropriately. If needed, discuss the appropriate use of antibiotics and antifungals with your healthcare provider before you travel and only take them as prescribed.
- Keep your hands clean. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially before eating and after using the restroom. If soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Be cautious of food and water. Eat food that is cooked thoroughly.
- Be aware of where your drinking water comes from and how it has been treated.
- Practice safer sex. Learn effective strategies to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including using condoms the right way every time you have sex.
- CDC's Traveler's Health website provides up to date travel health notices and tips for preparing for travel.
Sample social media post
Avoiding infections when traveling can help slow the spread of antimicrobial resistance. bit.ly/3V9nDrT #USAAW26
Activities
Podcast
- November 16: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
- Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship
- Speaker: Emily McDonlad
- Available November 16
Webinars
- November 16, 11 a.m. EST
- AMR Exchange
- Topic: 2026 Update to the Antimicrobial Resistance Threats Report: A Closer Look
- Speakers: CDC's Dawn Sievert, Maroya Spalding Walters, Meghan Lyman, James Baggs, and Heather Ewing Ogle
- Registration: AMR-Exchange.com
- November 18, 2 p.m. EST
- Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
- Topic: Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship Core Elements for Critical Access Hospitals
- Speaker: CDC's Emily McDonald
- Registration: Meeting Registration
- November 18, 4 p.m. EST
- Association for Dental Safety Webinar
- Topic: Optimizing Antibiotic Stewardship in Dentistry
- Speaker: CDC's Emily McDonald
- Registration: Learn the 411 on Antibiotic Stewardship for 2026
- November 20, 1 p.m. EST
- Arizona Department of Health Services
- Topic: Antibiotic Stewardship in Urgent Care and Telemedicine
- Speaker: CDC's Emily McDonald
- Register: Meeting Registration
Promotional resources and graphics
Use this word search to learn about the importance of infection prevention in fighting AR.
Coloring page activity to share during USAAW to bring awareness to antimicrobial resistance.
Antimicrobial resistance quiz to share during USAAW to bring awareness to antimicrobial resistance.
Additional resources
Recent publications
CDC social media
Follow and interact with CDC on social media by using #USAAW26 and #AntimicrobialResistance.
CDC web pages
Get email updates
Sign up for our email newsletter below.
Free resources for partners to use to support communication & education on antimicrobial resistance.
How antimicrobial resistance happens.
Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria can spread to people from food and animals.
CDC’s AR Threats Reports provide data on the impact of drug resistance in the U.S.
All about antibiotic prescribing and use in the U.S.
Key principles to guide efforts to improve antibiotic use, patient safety and outcomes.
HCPs & partners monitor outpatient antibiotic prescribing to improve prescribing & measure progress.
Appropriate use of antifungals in people, plants, and animals helps prevent antifungal resistance.
Three clinical algorithms to guide testing and treatment for endemic community-acquired pneumonias.
Antifungal treatment can be challenging. Appropriate use and antifungal development are necessary.
The BEAM Dashboard is an interactive tool to easily access and visualize Bacteria, Enterics, Amoeba,...
One Health recognizes the connection between the health of people, animals, and the environment.
CDC protects patients and healthcare personnel globally.
Content Source
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)
About this page
Published: May 15, 2024
Updated: November 3, 2026
This page was last updated on this date. Updates may include minor edits, image changes, or other modifications to page content.
Reviewed: November 3, 2026
The information on this page was last reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy.