The Italian Medicines Agency, with the patronage of the Ministry of Health, has relaunched for 2012 the ad hoc communication campaign on the theme of the correct use of antibiotics, entitled "Antibiotics? Use them only when necessary", which will focus on web channels and social networks (Facebook and Twitter), to inform citizens about the importance of:

• using antibiotics only when necessary and upon the doctor's prescription, who ascertains their effective usefulness;
• never interrupting therapy before the time indicated by the doctor or, in any case, only upon his/her advice;
• not taking antibiotics to treat viral infections.

In fact, Italy ranks among the top European countries for excessive and inappropriate consumption of antibiotics. This entails the development of antibiotic resistance, a problem of particular importance for the protection of citizens' health, since it exposes them to the risk of no longer having, in the near future, any possibility of curing infections. Even pathologies now considered minor, such as the whitlow, could therefore become frightening.

For this reason, in line with what has been implemented by other international institutions such as the World Health Organization and the ECDC (European Center for the Prevention and Control of Diseases), AIFA wanted to launch a new awareness-raising initiative on rational use of antibiotics.

The previous editions of the Campaign have generated a significant reduction in the consumption of these drugs with a consequent reduction in pharmaceutical expenditure, one more reason to continue such communication campaigns.

To support this communication initiative, AIFA has created a toll-free number (800 57 16 61), which responds to requests regarding the correct use of antimicrobials and all medicines in general.

Finally, for further information on expenditure and consumption, on adverse reactions to antibiotics registered in the AIFA National Pharmacovigilance Network, for more details on antibiotic-resistance and to know more about the new clinical trials in progress, please refer to the attached technical sheets.