World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW)

Official WHO Campaign page for WAAW

What is the difference between antimicrobial resistance  and antibiotic resistance?

While antimicrobial resistance refers to all microbes that resist treatments designed to destroy them. Antibiotic resistance specifically deals with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.

What does AMR have to do with cancer?

As many as 1 in 5 cancer patients undergoing treatment are hospitalised due to infection and antibiotics are the main line of defence. In fact, infection is the second leading cause of death in patients with cancer. People living with cancer are overall up to three times more likely to suffer infections from drug-resistant bacteria compared to those without cancer and a review showed higher mortality rates were associated with AMR infections.

💊 It's World AMR Awareness Week! 

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health threat that makes infections harder to treat and puts lives at risk. 

For people living with cancer, the consequences can be particularly serious. Drug-resistant infections can lead to treatment delays and interruptions, longer hospital stays, and poorer treatment outcomes. 

 

This year's theme, "One Health, one action: Prevent AMR now", highlights the shared responsibility to tackle AMR across human, animal and environmental health. 

 

#WAAW2026 

#AMR @uicc  

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing threat to cancer care, increasing the risk of treatment delays and interruptions, severe infection complications, and poorer treatment outcomes for people living with cancer. 

 

Yet AMR is often overlooked in national cancer control planning. 

 

The International Cancer Control Partnership (ICCP) has launched a new thematic page exploring the links between AMR and cancer, and why addressing this growing threat in National Cancer Control Plans (NCCPs) is essential to strengthening cancer care and health systems. 

 

🔗 Explore the new resource: https://www.iccp-portal.org/guide/antimicrobial-resistance-and-nccps  

 

#AMR #CancerControl #AntimicrobialResistance  

What can you do to prevent antimicrobial resistance?  

• Only use antibiotics prescribed by a doctor 
• Complete your treatment 
• Never share or use leftover antibiotics 
• Prevent infections with good hygiene, safe sex and vaccinations 

#AMR @uicc  

People undergoing cancer treatment can be particularly vulnerable to infections due to weakened immune systems. 

When infections become resistant to antimicrobial medicines (including antibiotics and antifungals), they can be harder to treat, leading to: 

🔸 Delays or interruptions in cancer treatment 

🔸 Longer hospital stays and increased healthcare costs 

🔸 Greater risks of complications and mortality 

This #WorldAMRAwarenessWeek, UICC continues to highlight why infection management and addressing AMR must be part of efforts to strengthen cancer care and improve patient outcomes. 

#WAAW2026