The growth of antibiotic resistance is a major global threat
and has triggered repeated calls to improve the way we use
antibiotics.
Antibiotic use is a major driver of resistance and New
Zealand has comparatively high rates of antibiotic use
compared to other Organisation for Economic Co-operation
and Development (OECD) countries.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has publicly
recognised antibiotic resistance as a leading threat to
human health and endorsed a Global Action Plan back in
2015. In response, New Zealand’s Ministry of Health committed to
the National Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan in 2017.
Read more about World Antibiotic Awareness Week 2018