How Responsible Antibiotic Use Can Help Fight Antimicrobial Resistance
You wake up feeling awful—your throat hurts and you’re running a fever. The doctor prescribes antibiotics, and within a few days you start to feel like yourself again. You decide to stop taking the medication early.
It might seem harmless, but it isn’t.
When antibiotics are stopped too soon, the remaining bacteria have a chance to survive, adapt, and develop resistance to the drugs meant to eliminate them. This contributes to a major global health challenge: antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
As AMR grows, infections that were once easy to treat can become dangerous, even deadly. Millions of people around the world already die each year from drug-resistant infections. The encouraging news is that we can all help slow the spread of resistance by taking a few simple steps:
It might seem harmless, but it isn’t.
When antibiotics are stopped too soon, the remaining bacteria have a chance to survive, adapt, and develop resistance to the drugs meant to eliminate them. This contributes to a major global health challenge: antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
As AMR grows, infections that were once easy to treat can become dangerous, even deadly. Millions of people around the world already die each year from drug-resistant infections. The encouraging news is that we can all help slow the spread of resistance by taking a few simple steps:
- Always complete the prescribed antibiotic course, even if your symptoms improve.
- Don’t give your antibiotics to anyone else.
- Dispose of unused medicines safely—never flush them or toss them in regular bins.
- Follow your healthcare provider’s guidance—avoid requesting antibiotics unless they are truly necessary.
From Production to the Pharmacy Shelf
We are committed to combating AMR by ensuring responsible manufacturing practices, monitoring our supply chain, and supporting education for both healthcare professionals and patients.
Over the past two years, Teva has received two BSI (British Standards Institution) certifications for responsible antibiotic production. We keep a close watch on our facilities to prevent antibiotic residues from entering the environment, and we work with our suppliers to uphold the same standards. Antibiotics in wastewater or surrounding ecosystems can encourage bacteria to evolve and become more resistant.
Reaching Patients in Meaningful Ways
To promote better antibiotic use and prescribing habits, we collaborate with Clarivate on targeted pilot initiatives tailored to local healthcare systems and community needs.
In Germany, one pilot featured brief messages on pharmacy display screens for patients collecting antibiotic prescriptions. More than 389,000 digital reminders were also sent to pharmacists, helping them guide patients on safe antibiotic use. The impact was clear—77% of pharmacists reported that these materials supported more productive conversations with their patients.
In Kenya, the program integrates reminders directly into Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems so physicians receive real-time prompts about appropriate prescribing. Patients also get SMS reminders—delivered in their local language—to finish their medication. Insights from this project revealed common misconceptions, such as the belief that antibiotics can treat colds, as well as challenges like limited access to diagnostic tools, both of which can increase the likelihood of inappropriate use and rising AMR.
There is still progress to be made, and every one of us can contribute. By working together, we can safeguard the effectiveness of antibiotics and ensure they remain powerful tools for future generations.
We are committed to combating AMR by ensuring responsible manufacturing practices, monitoring our supply chain, and supporting education for both healthcare professionals and patients.
Over the past two years, Teva has received two BSI (British Standards Institution) certifications for responsible antibiotic production. We keep a close watch on our facilities to prevent antibiotic residues from entering the environment, and we work with our suppliers to uphold the same standards. Antibiotics in wastewater or surrounding ecosystems can encourage bacteria to evolve and become more resistant.
Reaching Patients in Meaningful Ways
To promote better antibiotic use and prescribing habits, we collaborate with Clarivate on targeted pilot initiatives tailored to local healthcare systems and community needs.
In Germany, one pilot featured brief messages on pharmacy display screens for patients collecting antibiotic prescriptions. More than 389,000 digital reminders were also sent to pharmacists, helping them guide patients on safe antibiotic use. The impact was clear—77% of pharmacists reported that these materials supported more productive conversations with their patients.
In Kenya, the program integrates reminders directly into Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems so physicians receive real-time prompts about appropriate prescribing. Patients also get SMS reminders—delivered in their local language—to finish their medication. Insights from this project revealed common misconceptions, such as the belief that antibiotics can treat colds, as well as challenges like limited access to diagnostic tools, both of which can increase the likelihood of inappropriate use and rising AMR.
There is still progress to be made, and every one of us can contribute. By working together, we can safeguard the effectiveness of antibiotics and ensure they remain powerful tools for future generations.
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