Be Antibiotics Aware Partner Toolkit
At a glance
CDC's educational effort, Be Antibiotics Aware , aims to improve antibiotic prescribing and use among consumer and healthcare professional audiences to protect patient safety and combat drug resistance. Partners can share these key messages, sample social media posts, and resources within their organization.
Key messages for everyone
Stay healthy and use antibiotics only when needed
Antibiotics can save lives, but they aren't always the answer. Everyone can help improve antibiotic use . Any time antibiotics are used, they can cause side effects and can contribute to the development of drug resistance .
Drug resistance happens when germs like bacteria and fungi develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them.
Improving the way we take antibiotics helps keep us healthy now, helps fight drug resistance, and ensures that these life-saving medicines will be available for future generations. Getting recommended vaccines is one of the best ways to keep yourself and others healthy. Vaccines help prevent infections, reduce the need for antibiotics, and fight drug resistance.
Antibiotics are only needed to treat certain infections caused by bacteria, not infections caused by viruses
Antibiotics do NOT treat infections caused by viruses
Antibiotics only treat certain infections caused by bacteria. Antibiotics do NOT treat infections caused by viruses including respiratory illnesses such as the common cold or a chest cold . Antivirals, which are different from antibiotics, only treat some infections caused by viruses like flu .
Antivirals work best when started early in the course of the illness. Visit a healthcare professional promptly if you are at high risk of getting very sick from flu.
Antibiotics are only needed to treat certain infections caused by bacteria
Antibiotics are only needed to treat certain infections caused by bacteria (e.g., strep throat, whooping cough, and urinary tract infections). Some bacterial infections, such as many sinus infections and some ear infections, can get better without antibiotics. Talk to a healthcare professional if you develop severe diarrhea during or after taking an antibiotic.
This could be a symptom of Clostridioides difficile (or C. diff ) infection, a condition that requires immediate treatment.
Talk to a healthcare professional about appropriate antibiotic use and allergic reactions
Take antibiotics ONLY when you need them. Avoid requesting antibiotics. Among patients who think they have a penicillin allergy, only 1 in 10 has a true penicillin allergy when evaluated.
If you or a family member may have a penicillin allergy, talk to a healthcare professional to assess whether you are truly allergic.
Antibiotic use can contribute to the development of drug resistance
Drug resistance happens when germs like bacteria and fungi develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them. That means the germs are not killed and continue to grow. These germs can cause drug-resistant infections, which can be difficult, and sometimes impossible, to treat.
Drug-resistant infections can affect anyone, anywhere, and at any stage of life.
Appropriate antibiotic and antifungal prescribing and use are important because any time these drugs are used, they can cause side effects and can contribute to the development of drug resistance. In the U.S., more than 2.8 million drug-resistant infections occur each year, and more than 35,000 people die as a result. When Clostridioides difficile ( C. diff ) is added to the annual U.S. death toll for all AR threats, the number jumps from 35,000 to 48,000 deaths.
Drug resistance means bacteria and fungi develop the ability to defeat the antibiotics or antifungals designed to kill them
Drug resistance does not mean the body is becoming resistant to antibiotics or antifungals; it means bacteria and fungi that live in and on our bodies develop the ability to defeat the antibiotics or antifungals designed to kill them. When bacteria become resistant, antibiotics cannot fight them, and the bacteria multiply.
Drug-resistant germs can quickly spread across settings, including communities, the food supply, healthcare facilities, the environment (e.g., soil, water), and around the world. Drug resistance is a problem that impacts the health of people, animals, and the environment (soil, water).
Preventing infections and improving appropriate antibiotic and antifungal prescribing and use combat drug resistance
Preventing infections from happening in the first place and improving appropriate antibiotic and antifungal prescribing and use are critical to combating drug resistance . There are simple actions we can all take – keeping cuts clean and covered, getting recommended vaccines, and handwashing – to prevent infections.
Anyone can get an infection, and almost any infection can lead to sepsis
Sepsis is the body's extreme response to an infection. It is a life-threatening medical emergency. Without treatment, sepsis can rapidly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.
Key messages for all healthcare professionals (HCPs)
Be Antibiotics Aware and engage in antibiotic stewardship activities
All healthcare professionals can Be Antibiotics Aware and engage in antibiotic stewardship activities to ensure that patients receive the best treatment for their illness.
CDC has resources to support the implementation of antibiotic stewardship activities in all healthcare settings . Prescribing antibiotics only when needed helps keep patients healthy, fights antimicrobial resistance, and ensures these life-saving drugs will be available for future generations.
Optimize antibiotic therapy
When prescribing an antibiotic, optimize selection and use the shortest effective duration of therapy. Each additional day that a patient is taking antibiotics increases their risk for adverse events. Talk to your patients about common and more serious side effects that may occur while taking antibiotics, including C. diff infection .
Ten percent of U.S. patients report having a penicillin allergy, but less than 1% of the population is truly allergic. Often, broad-spectrum antibiotics are prescribed for patients with a penicillin allergy label. Use of broad-spectrum antibiotics can be associated with higher costs, suboptimal treatment and increased threat of antimicrobial resistance.
When considering antibiotic therapy, evaluate your patient to determine whether they are truly allergic to penicillin.
For Health Care Providers Clinical Features of Penicillin Allergy
Be Antibiotics Aware to Get Ahead of Sepsis
Anyone can get an infection, and almost any infection can lead to sepsis. For patients with suspected sepsis, healthcare professionals should start treatment, including antibiotics, as soon as possible.
Antibiotic stewardship programs are essential for ensuring antibiotics are used appropriately for all patients, including those with sepsis. By aligning antibiotic stewardship and sepsis programs, hospitals can improve patient outcomes and safety. Engagement of the antibiotic stewardship program is critical to optimize the treatment of sepsis by ensuring that: Empiric antibiotic therapy is started as soon as possible for patients with suspected sepsis.
Antibiotic treatment recommendations are based on local microbiology data. Mechanisms are in place to review antibiotics started for suspected sepsis so they are tailored based on the patient’s clinical condition and diagnostic testing results or stopped if unnecessary or treatment is complete.
Protect your patients
Educate your patients and their caregivers about recognizing early signs and symptoms of worsening infection and sepsis . Educate your patients on how to seek immediate care if sepsis signs and symptoms are present.
Key messages for HCPs by setting
Outpatient
Remind your patients that antibiotics are only needed to treat certain infections caused by bacteria
Remind your patients that antibiotics are only needed to treat certain infections caused by bacteria, and that antibiotics do not treat infections caused by viruses, including respiratory illnesses such as the common cold or a chest cold. Discuss with your patients how some bacterial infections, such as many sinus and some ear infections, can get better without antibiotics. Consider antivirals for the treatment of some viral infections like flu.
Recommend ways to help patients feel better when antibiotics are not prescribed, and when to seek care if they don't feel better. Ensure your patients stay up to date on recommended vaccinations, including boosters.
Optimize the selection and duration of antibiotic therapy
Optimize the selection and duration of antibiotic therapy for common infections such as acute otitis media and acute sinusitis.
Optimize the use of diagnostic tests
Optimize the use of diagnostic tests to improve the diagnosis and treatment of infections and limit the spread of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. Viruses are the most common cause of pharyngitis in all age groups. Ensure appropriate testing for Group A Streptococcus is done before starting antibiotic therapy for patients with pharyngitis.
Patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria should not be treated with antibiotics in most cases. Avoid unnecessary urine testing unless signs and symptoms of a urinary tract infection are present.
Inpatient and long-term care
Optimize the selection and duration of antibiotic therapy
Ensure antibiotics are prescribed only when needed. Optimize the selection and duration of antibiotic therapy for common infections such as community-acquired pneumonia and urinary tract infections. Reassess antibiotic therapy to stop or tailor treatment based on the patient/resident's clinical condition and diagnostic test results.
Using the shortest, effective duration of antibiotic therapy is a key antibiotic stewardship strategy. Optimizing duration of therapy, especially in care transitions, is an important target for improvement.
Optimize the use of diagnostic tests
Optimize the use of diagnostic tests to improve the diagnosis and treatment of infections and limit the spread of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. Diagnostic stewardship can improve antibiotic use by reducing misdiagnosis of common infections, such as device-associated and C. difficile infections. Avoid unnecessary urine testing unless sign and symptoms of a urinary tract infection are present.
Patients/residents with asymptomatic bacteriuria should not be treated with antibiotics in most cases.
Dental
Talk to your patients about when antibiotics are needed
Talk to your patients about when antibiotics are needed to treat their dental infection based on the ADA guidelines .
Optimize the selection and duration of antibiotic therapy
Avoid prescribing clindamycin for dental infections when alternative options are available. Clindamycin may cause more frequent and severe adverse events (e.g., C. diff infection) compared to other antibiotics. Use the shortest effective antibiotic duration when treating otherwise healthy patients with dental infections.
When prescribing antibiotics for dental prophylaxis, ensure concordance with the most recent guidelines from professional society organizations. Educate patients about current recommendations on antibiotic prophylaxis.
Sample posts for social media
Share these key messages on your organization’s social media channels, print and e-newsletters.
Spotlight
Explore Be Antibiotics Aware social media graphics, fact sheets, and other resources. Antibiotic Prescribing and Use Educational Resources
Visit CDC's Facebook , LinkedIn , and Instagram pages.
Being antibiotics aware helps patients, caregivers, families, and healthcare professionals improve antibiotic prescribing and use. https://bit.ly/489yHuO Have a virus such as flu? You can feel better without antibiotics. Ask a healthcare professional about the best way to feel better while your body fights off the virus. https://bit.ly/489yHuO Parents/caregivers: Have a sick child?
Antibiotics aren't always the answer. Use the right tool to help your child feel better. https://bit.ly/3Va4ffC Antibiotics are critical tools for treating certain infections, including those that can lead to sepsis. However, any time antibiotics are used, they can cause side effects and contribute to the development of drug resistance.
Protect yourself from infections & preserve the power of antibiotics. https://bit.ly/4f7lyF2
Healthcare Professionals: #BeAntibioticsAware by talking to your patients about why they don't need antibiotics for a viral infection. https://bit.ly/3NsXRep Healthcare Professionals: Protect your patients. When prescribing an antibiotic, optimize selection and use the shortest effective duration of therapy. https://bit.ly/3xJLOFv Healthcare Professionals: Talk to your patients about when antibiotics are and are not needed, and discuss possible side effects such as C. diff infection, allergic reactions, and drug-resistant infections. CDC has patient education resources to help. https://bit.ly/3NsXRep All healthcare professionals can #BeAntibioticsAware and engage in antibiotic stewardship activities to advance patient safety and improve outcomes. https://bit.ly/4nBmNk4
X (formerly known as Twitter)
Antibiotics do not treat infections caused by viruses, including respiratory illnesses such as the common cold or a chest cold. #BeAntibioticsAware https://bit.ly #BeAntibioticsAware = knowing that antibiotics aren't needed to treat many sinus infections and some ear infections. https://bit.ly/489yHuO When antibiotics are not needed but are used anyway, they won't help you feel better and can cause side effects. #BeAntibioticsAware https://bit.ly/4f8eube Anytime antibiotics are used, they can cause side effects and lead to the development of drug resistance. #BeAntibioticsAware. #AntimicrobialResistance https://bit.ly/4f7lyF2
Additional CDC resources
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Antibiotic stewardship and antimicrobial resistance
Antibiotic Use and Stewardship in the United States, 2025 Update: Progress and Opportunities
Overview of current state of antibiotic use and stewardship activities in human healthcare settings.
Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship
Key principles to guide efforts to improve antibiotic use, patient safety and outcomes.
Antimicrobial Resistance
Combating antimicrobial resistance, a global threat
Training
CDC Training on Antibiotic Stewardship
This interactive, web-based activity contains four sections designed to help clinicians optimize antibiotic use to combat antimicrobial resistance and improve healthcare quality and patient safety.
Spanish resources
Prescripción y uso de antibióticos
Sobre prescripción y uso de antibióticos
Recursos educativos para pacientes y profesionales de atención médica
Los CDC ofrecen materiales para ayudar a informarse sobre el uso adecuado de antibióticos y la resis...
Información básica sobre la sinusitis (infección de los senos paranasales)
¿Tiene congestión nasal que simplemente no mejora? Podría ser sinusitis, que también se llama infecc...
Información básica sobre el resfriado de pecho (bronquitis aguda)
¿Por la noche la tos no lo deja dormir? ¿Tiene dolor en el pecho y sensación de cansancio? Podría te...
Información básica sobre el dolor de garganta
¿Le duele al tragar? O ¿le pica la garganta? Lo que le está causando el dolor de garganta podría ser...
Información básica sobre las infecciones urinarias
Las infecciones urinarias (IU) son infecciones comunes y generalmente requieren de antibióticos para...
Información básica sobre las infecciones de oído
¿Le duele el oído a su hijo/a? Podría ser una infección de oído.
Manejo del resfriado común
Aprenda cómo controlar los síntomas del resfriado común, cuándo buscar atención médica y estrategias...
Sepsis
About Get Ahead of Sepsis
Learn how CDC is educating patients and healthcare providers about sepsis.
Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements
Monitor and optimize hospital management and outcomes of sepsis.
On This Page
Key messages for everyone Key messages for all healthcare professionals (HCPs) Key messages for HCPs by setting Sample posts for social media Additional CDC resources
Nov. 10, 2026 Sources and Page Info Print Share
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National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID) About this page
Published: May 15, 2024
Updated: November 10, 2026 This page was last updated on this date. Updates may include minor edits, image changes, or other modifications to page content.
Reviewed: November 10, 2026 The information on this page was last reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy.
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