Program Director Program Manager
Dr. Christopher A. Ohl Michelle L. Wallis, B.S.
email: cohl@wfubmc.edu email: mwallis@wfubmc.edu
NCTars is a North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services program sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. North Carolina is one of 15 states currently receiving funding from the national antibiotic resistance “Get Smart Know When Antibiotics Work” campaign. The focus of the campaign is:
- Prudent antibiotic use in the community: We have many projects in development and completed.
- Reducing hospital infections through health care provider education (CME education , annual conferences (CASE), and hospital antimicrobial stewardship efforts (CAUSE)).
- Prudent antibiotic use on the farm. (Veterinary education about appropriate antibiotic use, including a collaboration effort with North Carolina State University).
The main message to North Carolina: Antibiotics DON’T work for colds or flu. Antibiotics kill bacteria, NOT viruses.
Antibiotic overuse results in pressure for the bacteria to become resistant and no longer respond to treatment. These antibiotic-resistant bacteria can quickly spread to family members, school mates and co-workers-threatening the community with a new strain of infectious disease that is more difficult to cure and more expensive to treat According to the CDC, antibiotic resistance is one of the world’s most pressing public health problems. North Carolinians of all ages can lower this risk by talking to their doctors and using antibiotics appropriately! October 2006 Press Release Colds and Flu-Sniffle or Sneeze?
The week of October 6-10, 2008 NCTars organized and led the state of North Carolina's "Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work-The Power to prevent is in your hands" initiative. Michelle Wallis Program Manager for NCTars was appointed the national activities coordinator for the CDC's Get Smart Campaign for 2008. This link will take you to NCTars activities for the week of October 6-10, 2008 Get Smart Week 2008.
If you have questions about this program, and would like additional information pertaining to educational materials, or to schedule a presentation for your workplace or community group, please contact Michelle Wallis, Department of Internal Medicine; Section on Infectious Diseases at 336-716-6342 or email: mwallis@wfubmc.edu. The NCTars website is under construction and should be available soon. For more information about NCTars various efforts toward antibiotic resistance education check back regularly at
www.wfubmc.edu/NCTars