World AMR Awareness Week
World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week – observed from 18 to 24 November 2025. This is an important opportunity for us all to raise awareness about AMR.
The theme for 2025 is “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future.”
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat.
World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) is a global campaign that is celebrated annually to improve awareness and understanding of AMR and encourage best practices among the public, One Health stakeholders and policymakers, who all play a critical role in reducing the further emergence and spread of AMR.
Please find AMR resources below if you would like to promote locally:
- World AMR Awareness Week 2025
- Infection prevention and control – Health New Zealand / Te Whatu Ora
- Growing risk of antimicrobial resistance infection in New Zealand / Ministry of Health NZ
- National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship
- Resources for World AMR Awareness Week / Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care