Review of Campaigns That Promote the Rational Use of Antibiotics in the Americas and Spain

Objective. To establish what types of community educational interventions (in terms of targets, format and content) have been conducted by health ministries and non-governmental organizations to improve antibiotic use in Spanish-speaking populations.
Methods. A web survey of educational campaigns was conducted to retrieve materials promoting the appropriate use of antibiotics in the community. The search focused on national health ministries, non-governmental organizations and research teams that have promoted rational antibiotic use in Latin America, Spain, Canada and the USA.
Results. Educational campaign materials from 10 countries (Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, Venezuela, Canada, and the USA) were identified. Five non-governmental organizations (PAHO, APUA, USAID, ReAct, and AIS) were found to promote proper antibiotic use throughout Latin America. Campaign media formats included video and radio advertisements, posters, fact sheets, and websites. Key campaign messages focused on: explaining bacteria, viruses, bacterial resistance, and antibiotics; outlining risks associated with self-medication or non-completion of the treatment course; protecting the existing stock of medications; consulting a health-care professional; and promoting hand-washing. Some campaigns also used media celebrities to promote their messages. Spain’s multifaceted intervention stood out with its use of multiple media formats, and its messages targeted at parents and children.
Conclusions. Numerous Spanish-speaking countries have launched campaigns to promote the rational use of antibiotics, with the involvement of governmental and non-governmental organizations. This broad range of materials is important to inform the development of similar campaigns in other countries. Appropriate antibiotic use campaigns in Latin America have both a local relevance in countries where they exist, and a global relevance throughout the Spanish-speaking world. As more countries develop national antibiotics programs, those falling behind could be increasingly motivated to follow suit.