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Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship

  • Antimicrobial Resistance Home
  • Antibiotics Only When Needed (O.W.N.)
  • Antimicrobial Use and Resistance Basics
  • Minnesota Antibiotic Stewardship Data
  • Antibiotics and Environmental Health
  • For Health Professionals
  • For Animal Health
  • For Educators

Related Topics

  • Minnesota One Health Antibiotic Stewardship Collaborative
  • One Health Antibiotic Stewardship Print Materials
  • Healthcare-Associated Infections
  • Infection Prevention & Control
  • Infection Control Assessment and Response Program (ICAR)
  • Hand Hygiene

Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship

  • Antimicrobial Resistance Home
  • Antibiotics Only When Needed (O.W.N.)
  • Antimicrobial Use and Resistance Basics
  • Minnesota Antibiotic Stewardship Data
  • Antibiotics and Environmental Health
  • For Health Professionals
  • For Animal Health
  • For Educators

Related Topics

  • Minnesota One Health Antibiotic Stewardship Collaborative
  • One Health Antibiotic Stewardship Print Materials
  • Healthcare-Associated Infections
  • Infection Prevention & Control
  • Infection Control Assessment and Response Program (ICAR)
  • Hand Hygiene
Contact Info
Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division
651-201-5414
IDEPC Comment Form

Contact Info

Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division
651-201-5414
IDEPC Comment Form

Antibiotics Only When Needed (O.W.N.)

Antibiotics Only When Needed (O.W.N.): Own the problem. Own the solution. Own your health.

The Minnesota Department of Health developed this campaign and its graphic elements to increase awareness of appropriate antibiotic use and prevent antibiotic resistance. Please use these graphics and resources to improve antibiotic use in your community.

On this page:
What Everyone Can Do
Minnesota Stories
Downloadable Graphic Elements
Contact

What Everyone Can Do

Antibiotics are lifesaving drugs that treat infections caused by bacteria. Using antibiotics when they are not necessary – especially for viral infections like the common cold and flu – make some infections very difficult to treat. For everyone's health, we must use antibiotics only when needed (O.W.N.).

One Health is the understanding that the health of humans, animals, and the environment is connected. From the doctor’s office, to the veterinary clinic, and even to the homes of Minnesotans, we can all improve how we use antibiotics. Antibiotics O.W.N. is relevant to us all.

More Information and Resources

Steps to prevent antibiotic resistance:

  • Prevent infections through handwashing, vaccination, and food safety.
  • Ask your provider how you can get symptom relief without antibiotics.
  • Properly dispose of leftover medications at a take back box. Do not throw them away or flush them down the toilet or drain.
  • Never pressure your health care provider or veterinarian to prescribe antibiotics.
  • Take antibiotics exactly as prescribed, never save antibiotics for the next time you get sick, and never take antibiotics prescribed for someone else.

Help us promote the “Antibiotics Only When Needed” message in your community. Talk to your friends, family, coworkers, and more about this important issue.

Additional Resources:

  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Antimicrobial Use and Resistance
  • What You Can Do to Improve Antibiotic Use
  • One Health Antibiotic Stewardship Print Materials
  • Antibiotic Resistance and Stewardship Resources for Educators
  • MPCA: Don't flush medicines down the drain
U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week is observed annually during November 18–24 to bring attention to the critical role antibiotics play in human health, environmental health, animal health, and beyond. Find resources, register for webinars, and more.

Minnesota Stories

Molly McCoy: Stories of Antibiotic Use and Resistance

Stories of Antibiotic Use and Resistance
Minnesota families, residents, health professionals, educators, and farmers share their experiences and challenges with antibiotic use and resistance.

Downloadable Graphic Elements

Health professionals and partner organizations have an important role to play in combating antibiotic resistance. Include these graphics on your website, resources, social media messages, and more. Do not alter graphics in any way.

Please visit MDH Branding for more information on general standards, color palletes, and file formats. If you have any questions regarding proper use of these graphic elements, contact health.stewardship@state.mn.us or call 651-201-5414.

To save a PNG file, right-click the blue underlined hyperlink and select "Save target as..." or "Save link as...".

O.W.N. Symbol

PNG - screen resolution
PNG - high resolution
EPS - Adobe Illustrator
o.w.n. symbol

O.W.N. Graphic

PNG - screen resolution
PNG - high resolution
EPS - Adobe Illustrator
o.w.n. graphic

O.W.N. Graphic for Companion Animal Partners

PNG - screen resolution
PNG - high resolution
EPS - Adobe Illustrator
o.w.n. graphic for companion animal partners

O.W.N. Graphic for Partners Outside of Health Care

PNG - screen resolution
PNG - high resolution
EPS - Adobe Illustrator
o.w.n. graphic for partners outside of health care

Contact

If you have questions or need technical assistance, please contact health.stewardship@state.mn.us.

Tags
  • antibioticresistance
Last Updated: 11/14/2022

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