Southwest Montana News

The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) is promoting U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week from November 18-24, 2023. The event provides an opportunity for organizations in the state's Antimicrobial Stewardship Program to focus on antibiotic use to address antibiotic resistance.

Erika Baldry from the Infection Control and Prevention/Healthcare-Associated Infection Section (ICP/HAI) at DPHHS emphasized that antibiotics are ineffective against viruses like colds, flu, or COVID-19. She advised consulting healthcare providers for appropriate treatments and exploring non-antibiotic options when they are unnecessary.

While antibiotics are commonly used for bacterial infections, they are not always suitable. DPHHS outlined several measures to enhance antibiotic prescribing and usage. Baldry suggested "only prescribing antibiotics when necessary and for only the shortest effective duration," completing prescribed courses, and using only personally prescribed antibiotics.

To reduce antibiotic resistance, it is important to stay current on vaccines, practice good hygiene, manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, and avoid spreading illnesses by staying home when sick.

Baldry warned that unnecessary antibiotics could lead to side effects and resistance. "Resistance to antibiotics does not mean that the body is becoming resistant; rather, it means that bacteria develop the ability to defeat the antibiotics designed to kill them," she explained.

Resistant bacteria pose treatment challenges and can spread widely. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report over 2.8 million cases of antibiotic-resistant infections annually in the U.S., with more than 35,000 resulting deaths.

DPHHS tests for antibiotic-resistant organisms at the Montana Public Health Laboratory (MTPHL), focusing on carbapenem-resistant organisms—a public health concern due to limited treatment options if resistance occurs.

Infections caused by these germs can spread within healthcare facilities or into communities. In 2023 up until early October, MTPHL received 57 carbapenem-resistant organism submissions; one was identified as a challenging-to-treat carbapenemase-producer. In comparison, there were 74 submissions in 2022 with three carbapenemase-producers identified.

For more information about U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week or the Montana Antimicrobial Stewardship Collaborative, further resources are available online.