November 13-19 is World Antibiotic Awareness Week, and our Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Richard Snyder, MD, has joined other global CMOs on behalf of Independence in pledging to help improve the use of antibiotics and slow resistance.

Modern medicine relies on antimicrobials – antibiotics in particular. They treat life-threatening infections and are vital to many medical advances, including basic surgery, heart transplants, and chemotherapy. Antibiotics are among the most powerful medicines ever developed, but as bacteria develop resistance, antibiotics are starting to fail. About half of all antibiotics are unnecessary or prescribed for the wrong reason, which is speeding up resistance.

For more information

As physicians who treat our members, Independence relies on you to educate yourself, your office staff, and your patients about antibiotic resistance using resources like the ones listed below:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Core Elements of Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship
• World Health Organization:
  • – World Antibiotic Awareness Week information
  • – Quiz: How much do you know about antibiotic resistance?
• Bupa: Antibiotic resistance – frequently asked questions