The MVMA and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) are excited to join the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in promoting the observance of U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week, raising awareness of the harms posed by antibiotic resistance, and emphasizing the importance of appropriate antibiotic use and antibiotic stewardship programs. We ALL share responsibility for doing our part to ensure that antibiotics remain useful for future generations. As partners across the One Health spectrum, we hope that you will join this effort!

Here are three things you can do in veterinary medicine to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics:

1. Commit to using antibiotics appropriately and only when needed:
   1. Implement the AVMA’s core principles for veterinary settings-Antimicrobial Stewardship Definition and Core Principles
   2. Use the University of Minnesota (UMN) College of Veterinary Medicine’s comprehensive guide to implement the AVMA Core Principles of Antimicrobial Stewardship in your clinic-Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship Initiative
2. Explore resources to learn more and educate your clients:
   1. UMN College of Veterinary Medicine’s Antimicrobial Resistance Learning Site: a suite of educational materials aimed at teaching and promoting the prudent use of antimicrobial agents in veterinary practice
   2. One Health Antibiotic Stewardship Resources and Print Materials: fact sheets, flyers, posters, brochures, and other materials that you can print and use
3. Follow us on social media and sign up to receive our email updates to participate in U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week and help us spread the word!
   1. MDH – @mnhealth – can be found on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn
   2. Subscribe to One Health Antibiotic Stewardship Collaborative Updates