World AMR Awareness Week 2026: One Health, one action to prevent AMR now
This World AMR Awareness Week, FDI highlights how oral healthcare, responsible antibiotic use and cross-sector collaboration can help prevent antimicrobial resistance.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health threat that requires coordinated action across human, animal and environmental health. Under this year’s World AMR Awareness Week theme, “One Health, one action: Prevent AMR now”, FDI highlights the role of oral healthcare in tackling AMR, the importance of collaboration across health professions and resources to support responsible antibiotic use in dentistry.
Oral healthcare recognized in global action on AMR
The World Health Assembly’s adoption of the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (GAP-AMR) 2026–2036 marks an important step in global efforts to address AMR. Recognizing the contribution of oral healthcare to the wider response reinforces the importance of including dental professionals in coordinated efforts to prevent and manage antimicrobial resistance.
Dental professionals can contribute through responsible antibiotic prescribing, infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship in everyday practice. These actions form part of a broader One Health approach, which recognizes that tackling AMR requires collaboration across sectors and disciplines.
Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (GAP-AMR) 2026–2036:
AMR and pandemic preparedness: why collaboration matters
Drug-resistant infections also pose a challenge to pandemic preparedness. During health emergencies, disruptions to routine healthcare, diagnostic services and antimicrobial stewardship programmes can delay treatment and increase reliance on broad-spectrum antibiotics. Pressure on healthcare systems and interruptions to supply chains can further complicate the appropriate use of antimicrobials, potentially contributing to the development and spread of resistance.
To explore these connections, the World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA) is holding a webinar titled “AMR and Pandemic Preparedness: Why Interprofessional Collaboration Matters.”
The webinar examines the links between AMR and pandemic preparedness and considers how collaboration across health professions can strengthen workforce readiness for both. It reinforces the importance of maintaining effective antimicrobial stewardship and access to essential healthcare services during routine care and health emergencies.
Dental professionals are part of this collective response. Working across professions can help ensure that responsible antimicrobial use and infection prevention remain priorities in everyday practice and during future health emergencies.
Build your knowledge with FDI’s online course
Education is another important part of the response to AMR. FDI’s Massive Open Online Course on tackling antibiotic resistance in dentistry is designed to equip dental professionals with knowledge and practical approaches to tackling AMR and strengthening antimicrobial stewardship in their daily work.
By supporting evidence-informed prescribing and responsible antibiotic use, the course helps dental professionals contribute to collective efforts to prevent the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance.
Register for FDI’s Massive Open Online Course on tackling antibiotic resistance in dentistry.
One Health, one action
Preventing AMR requires action at every level, from responsible antibiotic prescribing in dental practices to coordinated policies and collaboration across healthcare professions and other sectors.
This World AMR Awareness Week, FDI encourages dental professionals to strengthen antimicrobial stewardship, explore available educational resources and work with colleagues across disciplines to help prevent AMR now and protect the effectiveness of antimicrobials for future generations.