Antibiotic Amnesty Campaign 2024
The veterinary profession is coming together again this November to hold an Antibiotic Amnesty. The aim is to encourage clients to return any unused or out of date antibiotics. This will allow correct and safe disposal of the antibiotic medications, which will avoid contamination of the environment and help prevent antimicrobial resistance due to inappropriate disposal. This year the campaign is brought to you by RUMA Companion Animal and Equine and is being sponsored by Zoetis.
What is the issue?
Antibiotics are essential to treat many conditions in both humans and animals. But they must be used carefully, to ensure they are effective when patients really need them.
If not used responsibly, antibiotics lead to dangerous side effects, delay an accurate diagnosis, and contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Inappropriate disposal of unused antibiotics also damages the environment, impacting water quality and wildlife.
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the biggest global health issues of our time. We must act, together.
What can you do in your vet practice?
- Talk about the Antibiotic Amnesty with your practice team and share the information in the resources available below.
- Have conversations with clients about antimicrobial resistance and the risks of not using antimicrobials responsibly and encourage the return of any unused antibiotics.
- Contact owners who have had antibiotics dispensed in recent months to tell them about the amnesty and prompt them to return any unused antibiotics – especially if they are due in again soon.
- Display the poster/s below in your waiting room.
- Share the resources below on your practice social media channels and website.
- Add stickers to packets of tablets or prescription bags.
- Modify vaccination booster reminders to include a mention of this initiative.
- Include details of the amnesty in client newsletters during November.
After the Antibiotic Amnesty
- Record the number of conversations had with clients about returning antibiotics – not only the number but also any useful feedback.
- Record the number of antibiotics returned to your practice during November.
- Feedback the amount of returned antibiotics (a new link will be added soon)
Please use this hashtag for the campaign activity across your social channels
#AntibioticAmnesty
Campaign Toolkit and Resources for veterinary practices
Posters for vet teams
Amnesty Poster – Equine
Amnesty Poster – Small Animal
Amnesty poster - general
Social Media posts and graphics for practices to use - client facing
Antibiotic Amnesty - social media graphic 4
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Summary documents for vet teams
Guidance for Practices - step by step guide to taking part in the Antibiotic Amnesty
Short Guidance for practices taking part
Summary document to give to clients
Amnesty client information sheet
Article for practice newsletters
Antibiotic amnesty copy for practice newsletters
Antibiotic amnesty video - coming soon
A One Health Approach for tackling AMR
Our colleagues in human healthcare are also involved in the Antibiotic Amnesty. Pharmacies across the UK are being encouraged to take part.
Could YOU reach out to make sure that this is a One Health campaign involving human and animal health?
For more information visit: Antibiotic Amnesty (rpharms.com)
Case Studies from the 2023 Antibiotic Amnesty
Wilbury Vets, Hove – overall winner of the Antibiotic Amnesty 2023
Willows Veterinary Centre, Solihull – Antibiotic Amnesty 2023 Runner Up
Rosemullion Vets – 2023 Antibiotic Amnesty - Runner Up
RVC Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, Royal Veterinary College – runner up
