Governor Katie Hobbs declared November 18–24, 2025 as Arizona Antibiotic Awareness Week, which runs at the same time as U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week  and World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can affect anyone, anywhere, and at any stage of life. Each year, AMR is responsible for 1.3 million deaths around the world and 35,000 deaths in the U.S. Behind every number, there is a real person suffering the debilitating effects of AMR. The Infectious Diseases Society of America highlights a few of these stories in their Faces of Antimicrobial Resistance report. To slow the development of AMR, public health, health care professionals, patients, and communities must work together and ensure antibiotics are used only when necessary. 

The Arizona Department of Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would like to help you know how to safely use antibiotics throughout the year. In order to Be Antibiotics Aware, remember:

  • Antibiotics do NOT treat viruses, like those that cause colds, flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), or COVID-19. Other medications, called antivirals, can treat some viruses.
  • If your healthcare provider wants to give you (or your child) an antibiotic, you are encouraged to ask questions and be involved with the decision making process:
    • What type of infection am I (or my child) being prevented or treated for?
    • What is the name of the antibiotic?
    • How and when do I take the antibiotic?
    • Does the antibiotic cause side effects? What are they and how can I prevent them?
    • When should I stop taking the antibiotic?
  • If you need antibiotics, take them exactly as prescribed. Your antibiotics were prescribed to you based on your individual infection and other health factors. Your antibiotics should never be shared with others.
  • Do NOT take antibiotics when they’re not needed. They won’t help you, and their side effects can cause you harm. Taking them for the wrong illness or not as prescribed can also cause antibiotic resistance, making infections harder to treat.

It takes all of us working together to fight AMR! For more information on how to get involved with Antibiotic Awareness Week, please visit our Antibiotic Awareness Week page and the CDC’s antibiotics page.