Several national dental organisations have supported the World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week (WAAW) 2024. Set up 10 years ago by the World Health Organisation, WAAW takes place every year from November 18 to 24.

Infections which are resistant to treatment by antibiotics already kill more people than malaria and HIV/aids. Predictions suggest the rate of growth will kill more people than cancer within the next 25 years.

The projection of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) illustrates the scale of the global problem, which was the subject of a UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting in September 2024.

AMR leads to antibiotics no longer being effective in treating or preventing infections and restricts the ability to treat and prevent infections. It may restrict the safe delivery of major surgery, chemotherapy and organ or stem cell transplants.

To help raise awareness, 20 dental organisations have come together to support the WAAW 2024 theme, ‘Educate. Advocate. Act now.’

Following the increase in dental prescribing of antibiotics during the Covid-19 pandemic, NHS dentistry has seen a year-on-year reduction. However, the College of General Dentistry has said further work is required so that everyone plays their part in keeping antibiotics working by ensuring only necessary use.

The updated ‘Dental Antimicrobial Stewardship Toolkit’ provides free resources for dental professionals. These resources can support the delivery of the UK’s second national action plan on AMR, published earlier in 2024, and dental practice owners and managers can help demonstrate compliance with the ‘Health and Social Care Act 2008: Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections’.

Wendy Thompson, the College of General Dentistry’s AMR lead, said, “Dental professionals can help preserve the life-saving effectiveness of antibiotics for the health of our patients and for future generations. On behalf of all the organisations supporting this campaign, I urge colleagues to use the resources in the toolkit to ensure that they are only prescribing antimicrobials when strictly necessary, and to educate patients on the risks to themselves and wider society of unnecessary use of antibiotics. Please do what you can – Educate. Advocate. Act now!”

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