New York State Department of Health Urges Everyone to Prevent Drug-Resistant Infections; New Data Shows Progress in Preserving the Power of Antibiotics

Landmarks To Be Illuminated in Purple on Evening of November 19 in Recognition of U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week

Antibiotics Treat Certain Bacterial Infections, But Not Viruses Like Covid, Flu or RSV; Unnecessary Use of Antibiotics Can Contribute to Antimicrobial Resistance

New Data Details Potentially Avoidable Antibiotic Prescribing Rates Among Children and Adults

Department Releases Updated Adult and Pediatric Antibiotic Prescribing Guidelines

The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) is raising awareness about the risk of overuse and misuse of antibiotics (medicines used to treat infections caused by bacteria), which can contribute to antimicrobial resistance.  When bacteria become resistant, antibiotics might no longer work, resulting in infections that are difficult or impossible to treat.  Newly released data that looks at potentially avoidable antibiotic prescribing rates show encouraging overall improvements among children aged 3 months to 17 years and adults aged 18 to 64 years who were treated for acute respiratory infection.  However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that each year in the United States at least 2 million people become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and at least 23,000 people die each year as a direct result of these infections.

"Antibiotics can save lives when used to treat bacterial infections, but when taken improperly, they can have harmful health effects," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said.  "It's important to remember that antibiotics do not treat viral infections like COVID or the flu.  New Yorkers should only take antibiotics as prescribed, so they receive the full benefit of treatment without contributing to antimicrobial resistance."

U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week is observed each year from November 18 to 24.  The CDC's theme for 2025 is "Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance Takes All of Us."  In recognition of the awareness week, the Department is encouraging all New Yorkers to only take antibiotics as prescribed.  Health care providers can help preserve these important medications by only prescribing them when needed for treating certain infections caused by bacteria.  The Department recently released its updated Adult and Pediatric Antibiotic Prescribing Guidelines for appropriate antibiotic prescribing for common infections.  To help improve antibiotic prescribing and use among health care professionals and the general public, the CDC has provided a Be Antibiotics Aware social media toolkit providing key messaging, sample social media posts, and important CDC resources.  In recognition of U.S. Antibiotics Awareness Week, New York State landmarks will be illuminated purple tonight, November 19.

Landmarks to be lit include:

• 1WTC
• Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
• Kosciuszko Bridge
• The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building
• State Education Building
• Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
• Empire State Plaza
• State Fairgrounds – Main Gate & Expo Center
• The "Franklin D. Roosevelt" Mid-Hudson Bridge
• Grand Central Terminal - Pershing Square Viaduct
• Albany International Airport Gateway
• MTA LIRR - East End Gateway at Penn Station
• Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal
• Moynihan Train Hall
• Roosevelt Island Lighthouse

More information about antibiotics and what conversations are good for patients to have with a health care provider can be found here.  Information about antimicrobial resistance can be found here.  Learn more about U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week here.