MEDIA RELEASE
18 NOVEMBER 2013
RCPA SUPPORTS ANTIBIOTICS AWARENESS WEEK
The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) is proud to announce its supporting
partnership with NPS MedicineWise during its annual Antibiotic Awareness Week from 18-24
November 2013.
The NPS MedicineWise is one of a number of organisations that is advocating a One Health
approach to addressing the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in Australia. The initiative
calls on a vast group of consumers, policy-makers, and professionals across the agricultural,
veterinary and health sectors to join forces to preserve the importance of antibiotics.
Professor Yee Khong, President of the RCPA, says that there is a crucial need for an increase
in awareness surrounding the importance of the protection of antibiotic effectiveness against
bacterial infections.
“Antibiotics are one of the most vital weapons in fighting bacterial infections, however there
is a continuing problem with the overuse and misuse of antibiotics.. This is ultimately leading
to antibiotic resistance. It is critical that people are sufficiently educated about antibiotic
resistance and how to use these medicines appropriately,” says Khong.
According to NPS MedicineWise, Australians are amongst the highest users of antibiotics in
the developed world, with around 19 million prescriptions issued every year.
Although many bacterial infections and diseases such as tuberculosis, which were once killers,
are now treatable with antibiotics saving the lives of millions of people, resistant strains of
these very same organisms are steadily increasing.
To build on the success of its antibiotic resistance fighter campaign conducted with
consumers, NPS MedicineWise has launched a new interactive web application to encourage
all health professionals to pledge their commitment to the MINDME Antimicrobial creed.
“As a supporting partner of this campaign we strongly urge all health professionals to register
their workplace to the MINDME Antimicrobial creed and take part in this initiative,” says
Khong.
For further information on NPS MedicineWise and Antibiotic Awareness Week, please visit:
http://www.nps.org.au/
For further information on the RCPA, please visit:
www.rcpa.edu.au
ENDS
About the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia:
The RCPA is the leading organisation representing pathologists in Australasia. Its mission is to
train and support pathologists and to improve the use of pathology testing to achieve better
healthcare. For more information please visit: http://www.rcpa.edu.au/Publications
Media enquiries:
Dr Debra Graves
CEO – RCPA
02 8356 5830
debrag@rcpa.edu.au
or
Georgy Searles
S2i Communications
02 9231 2927
georgy@s2i.com.au