World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (18-24 November 2021)
France promotes responsible use of antibiotics as part of a holistic approach to global health, addressing human, animal and environmental health: the One Health approach.
The harmful effects of excessive antibiotic use are one of the 10 most serious threats to global health identified by the World Health Organization (WHO). To fight this major issue, France is committed to promoting essential interministerial positions on controlling antimicrobial resistance at European and international levels. As such, France supports World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, organized at the initiative of WHO from 18-24 November 2021, and European Antibiotic Awareness Day on 18 November 2021, promoted by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
A global problem
In the last three decades, infectious diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become increasingly common in France and the wider world, in a phenomenon known as antimicrobial resistance, linked to the excessive use of antibiotics on humans, animals and crops. Fighting this problem, identified by WHO as one of the 10 most serious threats to global health, is a global public health priority.
A French roadmap based on the holistic One Health approach
In this context, France promotes responsible use of antibiotics as part of a holistic approach to health, addressing human, animal and environmental health: the One Health approach.
In accordance with WHO recommendations, France implements an interministerial roadmap to limit antimicrobial resistance (2016) focused on five priorities: greater awareness among the public and health professionals, better use of antibiotics in practice, greater support for research and innovation, enhanced surveillance and, lastly, stronger intersectoral coordination of the fight against antimicrobial resistance, in synergy with European and international initiatives.
Defending France’s positions on the international and European stages
France promotes responsible use of antibiotics in negotiation of European norms (regulations and directives), as well as playing an active part in many expert groups in various fields (human medicines, veterinary medicines, environment, food safety, etc.). Internationally, France advocates for the adoption of ambitious measures to fight antimicrobial resistance in standard-setting forums like the Codex Alimentarius, as well as major political orientations within international organizations including WHO, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in addition to the G7 and G20.
French support for international and European initiatives
France supports many international initiatives on antimicrobial surveillance and research and innovation in the field, including the WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) and the EU-supported Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance (JPIAMR). France also has research partnerships and cooperation projects internationally, particularly with developing country partners.
During World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, outreach campaigns are carried out by actors involved in antimicrobial resistance.
For more information, visit the web pages on antimicrobial resistance of the French Government, international organizations (WHO, FAO, OIE and UNEP), and the ECDC.
Last update: November 2021