Our mother Peggy was a healthy, vibrant, 56-year-old kindergarten teacher when she was struck with a Clostridium difficile infection in April 2010.

Following a normal root canal, our mother was prescribed a powerful antibiotic for prophylaxis. A few days into the course of antibiotics, she came down with diarrhea. When it failed to resolve, we took her to the hospital assuming she had a virus or parasite and needed hydration. Despite the best efforts of the medical team using the strongest antibiotics they had, 36 hours later she was dead. We started the Peggy Lillis Foundation in our mother’s memory. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

After my daughter Erin died of sepsis, I founded the Sepsis Alliance to save lives by raising awareness of sepsis as a medical emergency.

Sepsis is the body’s life-threatening response to infection and is treated mainly with antibiotics. Antimicrobial resistant (AMR) infections make sepsis treatment more difficult, if not completely ineffective. The current global sepsis death toll is unacceptable at approximately 8 million victims yearly. If we lose the effectiveness of antibiotics, that number will be catastrophically surpassed. I’m fighting for a world where no one is harmed by sepsis, and raising AMR awareness is part of that fight. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

Our beautiful 12-year-old son, Rory, fell playing basketball and grazed his elbow. Despite bringing him to his pediatrician and a major hospital emergency room when he became ill, Rory died four days later, from undiagnosed and untreated sepsis. The mortality rate from sepsis increases by over eight percent for every hour that antibiotic treatment is delayed. That’s why the protocol for sepsis is a fast diagnostic workup, prompt treatment with antibiotics and systematic re-evaluation to determine if the antibiotics should be adjusted or stopped. Rory never received antibiotics. We founded the Rory Staunton Foundation in memory of our son to spread awareness of sepsis and to ensure that every hospital in the United States adopts a responsible sepsis protocol. Through our work, we hope to prevent other families from experiencing such a devastating loss. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

I was a healthy 25-year-old newly wed when an antimicrobial-resistant infection turned my life upside down.

In extreme pain, I went to an emergency room where I was misdiagnosed with a strep infection, treated with antibiotics and sent home. In no time, the infection moved to my lungs and landed me in the ICU. Different doctors then diagnosed my condition as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a very difficult staph infection for which the initial antibiotic no longer worked. After quarantine and many weeks of treatment, I was released. We never did learn how I got the infection. Today, I live with a chronic cough and the reality that the infection might return. And while I survived, 700,000* people die every year around the world from incurable infections—and this is getting worse rather than better. AMR is a ticking time bomb. I support the effort to raise awareness so you, and your family, never face what I have been enduring. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

* The Review on Antimicrobial Resistance Chaired by Jim O’Neill. Antimicrobial resistance: Tackling a crisis for the health and wealth of nations. 2014.

When I arrived at the hospital for a cut on my leg in 2013, I thought I would be treated, healed and sent home good as new.

Instead, I contracted C. difficile, which was the start of a struggle with my health that continued for many years. In the first week of contraction, I lost 15% of my body mass and almost lost my life. I became determined to do something to prevent the transmission of this devastating, sometimes resistant, bacteria. Partnering with a multidisciplinary team at Vancouver Coastal Health, we developed a successful C. difficile canine scent detection program. Now, we search hospitals every day with our trusted companions, including Angus, who use their super sniffers to detect the bacterium and help identify gaps in infection control and prevention practices. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

Animals are precious to our Maasai tribe, but I never expected I would contract zoonotic tuberculosis (TB) from our staple foods—un-boiled milk, rare meat and blood.

I was treated with a wide range of antibiotics due to misdiagnosis until I was finally admitted to Nairobi hospital where lab tests confirmed TB. The seven months of anti-TB drugs and month of injections changed me forever. I since started an NGO to educate communities on TB. We collect sputum from suspected patients, educate on the importance of getting tested and counsel on treatment adherence. Additionally, we help build windows in our Maasai manyattas (huts) to ensure proper ventilation, which helps prevent the spread of TB. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

I am an XDR-TB survivor, which means most TB drugs did not work on me. Several years ago, I was doing my residency as a medical doctor when I became ill and was misdiagnosed as having normal TB. I was given the wrong medication for a very long time. It impacted me not only physically but also mentally. I was popping over 20 pills a day for over two and half years, including six months of daily injections. All these medications have terrible side effects, as they are very toxic. I developed jaundice, briefly lost my eyesight and hearing, developed thyroid disorders and lost the lower half of both of my lungs. After I recovered, I turned to advocacy to fight drug-resistant TB and to mandate drug susceptibility testing. I am a patient advocate and a resistance fighter. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

I am a TB survivor. When I was a third year medical student, I was not willing to disclose my diagnosis due to fear of stigma. I had heard horror stories from patients who suffered from TB so I kept my story quiet. Once treated, I went on to become Ms. South Africa 2018. This was a new platform where people were listening to what I had to say. I decided to amplify the message of TB and stigma to drive change in my country and around the world. I started a campaign called #BreakTheStigma to help those affected by TB to know they are not alone. People with TB should not be afraid to ask for help. I am Ms South Africa 2018, a medical student, activist and a Resistance Fighter. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

My own personal overuse of antibiotics introduced a superbug into our home, forever changing our lives. I was only 31 years old at the time. For seven painful months, I fought for my life against Clostridium difficile. A year after my recovery, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl who, to my horror, contracted Clostridium difficile before she turned two. I watched in agony as she endured the same devastating effects of this bacteria. I feel personally committed to combating the looming threat of superbugs and our nation’s “antibiotic habit.” More education is necessary in this fight, whether it comes through Capitol Hill, social media or the local newspapers. I share my story with all who will listen, so that they might be spared. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

I was a successful and healthy business engineer, until the moment I required a hip implant that ended in a surgical infection. The infection in my right femur was caused by Staphylococci sp. and resistant Enterobacteria sp. For the 8 years, the infection has prevented free movement in my leg. It has become a tireless struggle, using kilos and kilos of intravenous broad spectrum antibiotics at enormous cost in my home, without solving the problem. One of my biggest concerns is the risk associated with these superbugs and how could they impact my family. We need to persevere against antimicrobial resistance and preserve our antibiotics – we don’t want to get to a day when the magic bullets of Fleming are no longer effective. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

Yo era un ingeniero empresario exitoso y sano, hasta el momento que requerí un implante de cadera que terminó en una infección quirúrgica por estafilococos y enterobacterias resistentes localizados en mi fémur derecho desde hace 8 años impidiendo mi libre movimiento. Se ha convertido en una lucha incansable, con utilización de kilos y kilos de antibióticos de enorme costo e intravenosos de amplio espectro en mi domicilio sin resolver el problema. El mayor impacto en mi vida de estas superbacterias es la angustia que me genera el pensar que alguien de mi familia pudiera contraerlas. Me convierto en un luchador, perseverante ante la resistencia antimicrobiana porque mi pregunta todos los días es, ¿Qué va a suceder cuándo se acaben las balas mágicas de Fleming (Los antibióticos)? Porque todos debemos luchar en contra de las resistencias.

I’m a TB survivor and I live with HIV. I am a board member of TB People, a global network of people affected by TB. TB People believes that the community affected by this disease can and should receive support from programs dedicated to implementing, monitoring and evaluating progress. We strive to unite people to defeat this infectious disease, so that one day we can live in a world free from TB. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

I survived an eight-year-long battle against two bouts of TB. I first contracted intestinal TB when I was a teenager. I had to take 15 pills a day for the next 18 months of my life. During my second bout of TB, the bacteria came back with a vengeance and my condition became extremely critical. It was a matter of life and death. The worst of it all came shortly after my 24th birthday, when I ended up losing over 90% of my hearing because of the drugs needed to treat my severe form of the disease. There is still a lot of stigma and misinformation about TB, but as a journalist, I know the important role the media can play in creating awareness. We need to fight back. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

I am an artist and a TB survivor. In 2015, I spent seven months in the hospital with TB. I had never heard about the disease. The doctors told me not to tell anybody, because I would be stigmatized for life. I was very scared, as were the others in the hospital with me who also had tuberculosis. After a while, I realized that we should not feel guilty about our illness, and I decided to fight the stigma with the one weapon I knew: art. My project, Hold Your Breath, tells the stories of these people who shared my fate. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

I’m a TB survivor and was coinfected with HIV/AIDS. After multiple trips to hospitals I was lucky to be correctly diagnosed. There are several challenges—sometimes poor health systems contribute to the lack of treatment access and also patients do not follow the right treatment protocols. We need strong community support to help and support each other. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

As a musician, I use music to advocate for social change, because I know people pay attention to what I’m saying in my songs. I have decided to sing about tuberculosis (TB), because TB has made my family smaller than it used to be. I don’t want to lose any more people in my family, neighborhood, country, and continent—or anywhere in the world—because of TB. I want more and more people to learn about TB, know how to treat TB, care for those living with TB and know how to end TB. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

I work with MKUTA, the national umbrella organization for tuberculosis (TB) patients in Tanzania. MKUTA is building bridges between clients, between communities and within the health system. Working across 64 districts, we support the TB community by providing trainings and ensuring reporting standards to the National TB program. Additionally, we coordinate between different community organizations to ensure that we identify and provide the best services for people with TB symptoms. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

AMR is a serious problem in Kenya and the Ministry of Health takes this problem seriously.

One of the key problems is the procurement of antibiotics over the counter. Anyone can access antibiotics without necessarily having a prescription from the doctor. This unsupervised consumption of antibiotics contributes to antibiotic resistance. But there are many other drivers for AMR and we need to address them holistically and at every healthcare facility. We need robust policies. These changes must happen not only at the national level but also at the county and community level. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

It seems strange to call myself a “resistance fighter” since I spend most of my life promoting peace and aiding those affected by conflict and violence.

But refugees and forced migrants are highly vulnerable to antimicrobial resistance, so I pledge to inform them of this danger through ICMC’s primary healthcare and hygiene education programs. We cannot allow refugees and forced migrants to face the risk of a new threat—that of AMR. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

I had the pleasure of leading the Review on Antimicrobial Resistance on behalf of the British Government.

This AMR Review concluded that if we don’t undertake big policy initiatives, by 2050 there could be 10 million people around the world dying from AMR-related illnesses. Moreover, we projected that the lost economic potential due to AMR between 2015 and 2050 could be a staggering $100 trillion. Ten different intervention areas require serious policy attention, only some of which are making progress. Among the most important is the need for rapid and affordable diagnostics. We need modern technology to discipline all seven billion of us to stop pressuring our medical practitioners to prescribe antibiotics when they aren’t necessary, and the food industry needs to stop fattening animals and fish with antibiotics, in order to permanently reduce our excessive dependence on the few drugs that work and the new ones we hope to have in the future. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

As Chief Medical Officer for England, and as a doctor, I know the very real danger that AMR and drug-resistant infections pose, at home and around the world.

That’s why, as co-convener of the UN Inter-Agency Coordination Group on AMR, I work closely with other countries and international organisations to ensure we collaborate to combat AMR. A “One Health” approach is vital to ensure AMR is addressed across human and veterinary health, as well as in food and the environment. I will continue to engage with government departments, health agencies, the private sector, academics, professionals and, of course, the public, on the role that we can all play in reducing this deadly threat. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

As CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and as a medical doctor and infectious disease epidemiologist, I know only too well the dangers that AMR and drug-resistance pose, both to individuals and to global health security in general. Discovering new treatments to replace those that no longer work is critical and increasingly urgent, but one of the most powerful ways we have of fighting AMR is by preventing the infections in the first place with vaccines. Between 2015 and 2020 Gavi will have vaccinated hundreds of millions of children against important drivers of antibiotic use – meningitis and pneumonia – and in doing so prevented the use of more than 100 million doses of antibiotics. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

As Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota, I know that the best science in the world isn’t worth much unless it translates into effective policies and practices. This is a primary reason why we established the Antimicrobial Stewardship Project at CIDRAP. Antimicrobial resistance is a critical global problem that transcends political boundaries. And we will be able to effectively address it only through global collaboration and the translation of our research into consequential policies and practices. Without improved antimicrobial stewardship, resistance will become a greater killer worldwide than either heart disease or cancer. We must work every day to prevent this outcome.Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

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My focus is to identify organisms that cause infection, determine if they are resistant to antimicrobials and confirm if there’s a drug that will work. Experts predict that AMR may one day cause more deaths than cancer does today. I am determined to not see that happen, and this is why I am always vigilant against AMR. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

Our mother Peggy was a healthy, vibrant, 56-year-old kindergarten teacher when she was struck with a Clostridium difficile infection in April 2010.

Following a normal root canal, our mother was prescribed a powerful antibiotic for prophylaxis. A few days into the course of antibiotics, she came down with diarrhea. When it failed to resolve, we took her to the hospital assuming she had a virus or parasite and needed hydration. Despite the best efforts of the medical team using the strongest antibiotics they had, 36 hours later she was dead. We started the Peggy Lillis Foundation in our mother’s memory. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

It seems strange to call myself a “resistance fighter” since I spend most of my life promoting peace and aiding those affected by conflict and violence.

But refugees and forced migrants are highly vulnerable to antimicrobial resistance, so I pledge to inform them of this danger through ICMC’s primary healthcare and hygiene education programs. We cannot allow refugees and forced migrants to face the risk of a new threat—that of AMR. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

At FIND, we drive product development and delivery to address antibiotic overuse.

Our established R&D portfolio includes diagnostics that can tell us who actually needs antibiotics and which ones will be most effective. Beyond our extensive work in diagnostics of fever, we are expanding into gonorrhea and UTIs—common diseases in which AMR is a particular challenge—partnering with industry, academia, donors and governments to translate R&D advances into impactful interventions. Besides the critical R&D gaps that must be filled, there are also significant access barriers to overcome. Implementing an end-to-end solution bridging science, diagnostic use, communities and patients is the only way we will beat AMR. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

There are compelling economic and health arguments for addressing AMR.

Simply stated, the cost of treating tuberculosis is minuscule compared to treating somebody with drug resistance. We need rapid diagnostics that can quickly diagnose whether the person has a viral, bacterial or resistant infection. If I was an investor today, I would look at companion diagnostics for antibiotics in development. AMR requires a multi-faceted approach but diagnostics is the door that can really open up the potential to reverse the AMR threat. We need governments, industry, investors, and healthcare systems to attack it. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

AMR is a threat to the human race.

Nowhere is this truer than in my home country of Nigeria. The recent emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms has led to increased mortality and economic burden. Prescription monitoring is poor and antimicrobials are routinely sold over-the-counter–encouraging the misuse and overuse of drugs that lead to resistance. AMR must be overcome to combat infectious disease. I work daily with GBCHealth and our corporate partners to advocate for the importance of appropriate stewardship, prevention and R&D for new tools to fight against AMR. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

Animals are precious to our Maasai tribe, but I never expected I would contract zoonotic tuberculosis (TB) from our staple foods—un-boiled milk, rare meat and blood.

I was treated with a wide range of antibiotics due to misdiagnosis until I was finally admitted to Nairobi hospital where lab tests confirmed TB. The seven months of anti-TB drugs and month of injections changed me forever. I since started an NGO to educate communities on TB. We collect sputum from suspected patients, educate on the importance of getting tested and counsel on treatment adherence. Additionally, we help build windows in our Maasai manyattas (huts) to ensure proper ventilation, which helps prevent the spread of TB. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

I believe that governments must make AMR a priority both at a national and global level based on principles of shared responsibility and global solidarity.

There is a need to invest in training, education and scaling diagnostics not only at a country level but also at a regional level. We need global laboratory networks to identify and share the resistance data. Resistant bugs can transcend borders and therefore I say that there is a need for collective action because patients depend on us. Governments, health agencies, industry and civil society should all work together. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

As Scientific Lead for the NCCID, I see the importance of applying the best available research evidence and practice-based knowledge to make headway on the ‘wicked problem’ of antibiotic resistance. NCCID provides evidence and other knowledge for infectious disease public health and is uniquely situated to bring together many sectors and disciplines that must engage in solutions to this global public health threat. With our collaborators, we work to identify systems-level barriers and gaps in stewardship and surveillance, opportunities for scale-up of leading practices, and build broader awareness of the role of public health professionals in combatting AMR. Because we all need to be resistance fighters.

Comme directeur scientifique du CCNMI, je vois l’importance d’appliquer les meilleures preuves disponibles en matière de recherche et les connaissances issues de la pratique pour marquer des progrès sur l’ épineux problème de la résistance aux antibiotiques. Le CCNMI fournit des données probantes et d’autres connaissances sur les maladies infectieuses sous l’angle de la santé publique, et il occupe une position unique qui permet de réunir les nombreux secteurs et disciplines afin de trouver des solutions à cette menace mondiale. Avec nos collaborateurs, nous repérons les barrières et les lacunes dans les systèmes en matière de gestion et de surveillance, trouvons les occasions d’intensifier les pratiques de pointe et sensibilisons les professionnels de la santé sur leur rôle dans la lutte contre la RAM. Parce que nous devons tous être des combattants de la résistance.

As Chair of the Global Sepsis Alliance, I understand the critical nature of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Sepsis, the most serious complication of infection, is, absent appropriate and timely clinical management, almost universally fatal. To help combat its spread, the WHO has issued an important resolution, Improving the Prevention, Diagnosis and Clinical Management of Sepsis. It urges all UN Member States to secure access to effective antimicrobials and to use them responsibly. We know that delayed, incomplete and ineffective therapies contribute to the increasing threat of antimicrobial resistance, so we encourage every effort to improve prevention, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

Antibiotic resistance is largely the result of our human behavior of misusing or overusing antibiotics. The more intensely we continue these practices, the faster resistance will evolve and spread. And we can’t outrun this problem by developing new drugs alone. Everyone must help preserve the efficacy of our current antibiotic arsenal by using antibiotics responsibly, so they can work when they are needed most to save lives. That’s why I research and publicize the problems of inappropriate antibiotics use on every level, from individual to global. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

As healthcare practitioners we have an important role to play in raising awareness in the public, colleagues, friends and family on the significant risk antimicrobial resistance poses. I encourage patients to reach out to community pharmacists to help manage their symptoms, ensuring appropriate medicines are used to treat illness, avoiding the use of antibiotics unless they are necessary. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

Early detection, timely treatment, ongoing adherence to a treatment plan and routine monitoring are important to ensuring people living with HIV/AIDS can manage their infections and live healthier lives.

When gaps in routine laboratory monitoring for CD4 and HIV viral load cause resistant strains of the HIV virus to go undetected, it impedes an individual’s survival and enables transmission of resistant infections. This poses a significant challenge to our progress against HIV. At Siriraj Hospital, we offer a free external quality assurance program for CD4 testing labs to ensure all patients have access to quality routine monitoring with CD4. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

Surveillance is critical in identifying alarming trends related to antimicrobial resistance and antibiotics use. As an epidemiologist, I analyze and monitor prescription rates and the types of antibiotics prescribed, as well as resistance patterns of important pathogens. By transforming this raw data into meaningful pictures for healthcare professionals and the public alike, I’m helping all of us to better understand how to slow these trends down, even though we cannot stop them. But this fight cannot be fought by healthcare professionals alone. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

As someone deeply concerned about global health, I know it’s vital that we find novel classes of antibiotics to combat AMR. We’ve had no antibiotic breakthroughs since 1980. That’s why I cofounded a startup to develop a completely new generation of antibiotics designed to treat the most challenging infections across the globe. At Bugworks, we’re committed to finding first-in-class, broad-spectrum agents to fight against all of the superbugs identified by the WHO and CDC. We are a team of just 18 people, but we’re determined to find the treatments that India—and the rest of the world—so urgently needs. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

One of the great struggles of our time is preserving the value of antibiotics and their benefit to health. From research, to health promotion, to working with colleagues in all prescribing professions, our team is fighting to reduce antibiotic resistance. We work with healthcare professionals and policy makers to limit antibiotics misuse and to implement campaigns to raise awareness and promote good hygiene practices that can prevent infections. But this battle cannot be won by healthcare professionals and legislators alone. Our fight is your fight, too. We need your help combating antimicrobial resistance, every day, through good hygiene at home and at school. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

As a pharmacist who does research, I have witnessed the human toll of antibiotic resistance. I understand the importance of employing research to stay one step ahead of bacterial resistance. This is why our team at the Midwestern University Pharmacometrics Center of Excellence uses mathematical models to design the most effective and safest antibiotic regimens for patients. Collaboration between skilled scientists at the laboratory bench and passionate clinicians at the bedside is important. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

As a specialist in infectious diseases, I know the importance of getting the right diagnosis with regards to the organism causing the infection. This is more relevant in the scenario of rising antimicrobial resistance. That is why I insist on ordering the right diagnostic tests to determine whether an infecting organism is resistant and which drugs will work, as well as ensuring tight adherence to infection control protocols. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

As a pharmacist who provides education to healthcare professionals, I have seen devastating crises when no therapy is available to combat resistant pathogens. This is why I am committed to quality infectious diseases education at the New Mexico Health Sciences Center. Every day, I educate healthcare providers, patients and family members because I believe everyone plays a role in fighting the spread of resistant bacteria. Through teleECHOTM, we provide a rural and underserved population with up-to-date, relevant information related to the use of antibiotics. Education is a most powerful weapon, which we can use to change the world. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

As President of AMEIN, I know that we have a great challenge in our country. It is critical to have experts in Infection Control who work with a multidisciplinary approach. Our role as preventionists is to implement strategic programs that control and reduce the risk of acquiring an IAAS for RAM. We also need to have public policies, industries, organizations, health systems, committed governments and patients involved in this problem. Everyone will need to contribute at a significant level to combat this challenge. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

Como Presidente de la AMEIN sé que tenemos un gran reto en nuestro país, desde contar con expertos en Control de Infecciones que trabajen con un enfoque multidisciplinario, ya que nuestro papel como prevencionistas es implementar programas estratégicos que controlen y disminuyan el riesgo de adquirir una IAAS por RAM. Así como contar con políticas públicas, industrias, organizaciones, sistemas de salud, gobiernos comprometidos y pacientes involucrados en su salud, con la finalidad que nos unamos en un gran esfuerzo para combatir este desafío. Porque todos debemos luchar en contra de las resistencias.

Como Presidente de la AMEIN sé que tenemos un gran reto en nuestro país, desde contar con expertos en Control de Infecciones que trabajen con un enfoque multidisciplinario, ya que nuestro papel como prevencionistas es implementar programas estratégicos que controlen y disminuyan el riesgo de adquirir una IAAS por RAM. Así como contar con políticas públicas, industrias, organizaciones, sistemas de salud, gobiernos comprometidos y pacientes involucrados en su salud, con la finalidad que nos unamos en un gran esfuerzo para combatir este desafío. Porque todos debemos luchar en contra de las resistencias.

I am a microbiologist and my role to help fight antimicrobial resistance is very important. In my laboratory, we are trying to avoid the spread of multi-drug resistant microorganisms and this is a challenge as the problem of multi-drug resistance is rapidly growing. We are on the front line as we identify the resistant organisms and help prevent critical problems in patients. My main priority in the fight against AMR is timely diagnosis and reliable treatment which can prevent the death of many patients. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

Soy microbióloga y mi participación para evitar la resistencia antimicrobiana es muy relevante, en mi laboratorio siempre intentamos evitar la diseminación de microorganismos multirresistentes, lamentablemente este problema está en crecimientos y nosotros somos la primera barrera para identificar y prevenir problemas críticos en los pacientes. Un diagnóstico oportuno y tratamiento confiable pueden evitar la muerte de muchos pacientes, lo cual es mi principal prioridad en la lucha contra las resistencias. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters. Porque todos debemos luchar en contra de las resistencias.

As infectious disease specialist working with cancer patients, I understand that antibiotics play a decisive role in successfully preventing and treating infections. Many patients receiving chemotherapy or hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation have significant infections with antimicrobial resistant organisms, so it is fundamental for me to implement strategies to contain and prevent these deadly microorganisms. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

Como especialista en enfermedades infecciosas en pacientes con cáncer, comprendo que los antibióticos han desempeñado un papel determinante para prevenir y tratar exitosamente las infecciones por agentes con amplias resistencias antimicrobianas que ocurren en pacientes que reciben tratamientos de quimioterapia o trasplante de células progenitoras hematopoyéticas, por lo que es para mí fundamental implementar estrategias de contención y prevención de micro agentes mortíferos Porque todos debemos luchar en contra de las resistencias.

As an Acute Physician, I am used to seeing really sick patients who require super-fast action. But I also see many patients with unexplained symptoms. Infection is often one possible explanation. But giving broad spectrum antibiotics to patients who are stable rather than using diagnostic acumen and watchful waiting contributes to the spread of AMR, which can be life-threatening for many of my patients. This is why I insist on adherence to antibiotic guidelines and why I support the efforts to combat AMR. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

I have been working in the field of tuberculosis (TB) for over 30 years. I first encountered the disease while treating patients with HIV. While undergoing treatment for HIV, they were dying of TB. I found that unacceptable, and since then I’ve been committed to fighting both of these diseases. I became director of the CDC’s, Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, where I led the US National TB Program for 20 years. We made progress, but at a high price. In my current work, I still see individuals who suffer unnecessarily from a disease that’s eminently treatable. We need to make sure that people who think TB is a disease of the past recognize that this is a very common misconception. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

Tuberculosis (TB) is the number one global infectious disease killer today and drug resistance is a huge problem. Drug-resistant TB has a survival rate of barely 50 percent. Even though more than half a million people have drug-resistant TB, most patients are not being tested for drug resistance. To change this, we have to fundamentally agree that all patients with TB deserve drug-resistance screening tests and that all patients found to have drug-resistant TB will receive an appropriate treatment regimen. We need to work together to drive more change. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

I’ve traveled globally and have learned that microbial resistance anywhere is antimicrobial resistance everywhere, and the end result is patients die. My solution was to start an antimicrobial stewardship mentoring program with South African pharmacists. Together, we work side by side at each other’s hospitals to make a difference. I believe pharmacists need to be mobilized across the globe and empowered to do day-to-day antibiotic stewardship interventions. The mentoring program supported by strong South African leadership was a powerful combination that resulted in successful impact on the incidence of antimicrobial resistance. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

In the lab where I sit, I see resistance rates of 50% to 70%.I’m a clinical microbiologist and a lecturer at the School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. There are many problems in the hospital that cause antimicrobial resistance. I think that this is very serious, and one way of attacking this concern is to ensure that clinicians are using appropriate diagnostic investigations. They should do blood cultures before they start antibiotics and laboratory results should be used to determine which antibiotics should be given. In this way, we may limit the use of inappropriate antibiotics and enhance the fight against antimicrobial resistance in the hospital. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

I’m a pharmacist who has been working in this field of antimicrobial stewardship for quite a while. As a professor of pharmacy and global health at the University of Washington, I complete research and teach on the safety and use of medicines and vaccines in low- and middle-income countries. My interest is to gain a better understanding of the scope of the problem globally and to use this information to effectively recommend strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance. I’m a glass half full person. I see the opportunity to implement and follow through on effective strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

Right now I’m conducting research on the prevalence of antimicrobial self-medication in seven rural communities in Ghana. Antibiotics are purchased and used without the prescription of a physician. Self-medication of antibiotics is associated with the risk of inappropriate drug use which predisposes patients to drug interactions, masking symptoms of an underlying disease and development of microbial resistance. I educate community members on how to use antibiotics properly by following prescriptions and not underusing or overusing them. I tell the people that I meet that antibiotics can’t cure ordinary flu or colds. I take the opportunity to educate people during every day-to-day encounter. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

Counterfeit and substandard medications have been a very serious issue in sub-Saharan Africa. We have areas where patients and animals have been exposed to substandard antibiotics or received incorrect doses of antimicrobial agents. Both can lead to resistance. The problem is so large and sufficient data is not yet available, but in Cameroon we have begun investing in market surveillance on antibiotics. Advocates must collaborate and share knowledge so that we can combat antimicrobial resistance as one family, one people in the world. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

I realize that the problem of AMR is much bigger than we’ve always thought. We think more about other infectious diseases without thinking about the use of antibiotics and other antimicrobials. As a public health advocate, I’m going to integrate AMR training into all forms of education platforms. Grass roots efforts will be needed to get the change in behavior that we want to promote health. It won’t be easy. It will be quite challenging and demanding, but by incorporating education into everything we do in our day-to-day activities, in any area we find ourselves, in the urban areas—we will create the platform. We are going to do it. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

AMR is very big threat, particularly to poor nations like my country, Sierra Leone. My work and research focuses on AMR in my country. We abuse antibiotics, we misuse antibiotics, and we are now losing their legacy of saving lives and having a positive impact on human health. So, this is the right time for us to stand up and fight and to stop the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. This fight cannot be achieved by one person alone. We need a concerted effort. We need to come together to fight this problem. And until we come together with people with like minds, we cannot achieve our aim of mitigating the effect of antimicrobial resistance. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

We focus on health system strengthening with government leaders across the globe. In 2003, we started working with the government of Tanzania. They had shops that were dispensing inadequate medicines and incorrect medicines. Antimicrobial resistance was a danger lurking in every corner. We worked side by side with the government and with the drug shop owners to establish a system for accreditation. The accredited stores were branded with logos and the community was directed to go to the accredited shops, which prescribed good drugs correctly. Now, we have more than 13,000 drug shops and more than 23,000 drug dispensers who are accredited throughout Tanzania. We feel this effort is incredibly important to fighting antimicrobial resistance. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

We believe that each and every one of us should become a superhero in this fight against AMR. We partner with young children in India to empower them with knowledge about AMR and to develop educational tools about AMR, in the form of Grassroots Comics. Grassroots Comics are simply comics that tell a local story. They are a communication tool for all citizens that can transcend the barriers of language, literacy and media access. The infectious enthusiasm of the children who have attended our workshops was the motivation behind the success of this program, and we are hopeful that the work by these children will inspire others to take action against antimicrobial resistance. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

Antimicrobial resistance is a global threat and if you don’t act now, it will become a disaster in our clinical practice. We are seeing more multidrug-resistant organisms, which are causing increased patient stays in the hospital, increased costs of care, and an increased number of deaths. With the institution of an antimicrobial stewardship program, we were able to improve antibiotic utilization. Infection prevention and control, including hand hygiene, disinfection, sterilization and isolation practices, will also reduce the burden of AMR. I strongly believe antimicrobial resistance does not spell doomsday for human health. With everyone’s engagement and improved use of guidelines, we will improve outcomes and benefit future generations. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

I contracted TB in the year 2012 as a medical student at the University of Cape Town, which came as a huge surprise to me. In my mind I was not part of the demographic, but what I came to realize is a critical fact. To contract TB all we need to do is breathe. It doesn’t matter your skin color, your race, your socioeconomic status, any part of your background; all that matters is the fact that you breathe. TB is a huge problem in the world. It is the number one infectious disease killer at the moment. There is a lot of work that needs to be done in order for us to see a TB-free world. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

As an infection preventionist, I take healthcare-acquired infections (HAI) personally. My drive to eradicate HAIs has been challenged in a myriad of settings—public health, clinical research, nongovernment organizations (NGOs), hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private practices, long-term care and ambulatory surgery centers. Yet regardless of the location, the solutions to prevent the spread of HAIs are almost always the same: Hand hygiene. Cleaning and disinfection. Best practice bundles for patient care. Antimicrobial stewardship. None of these things can function without the other. You can’t eliminate the spread of AMR through judicious use of antibiotics if the nurse giving them to the patient hasn’t washed his hands. You can’t depend upon sophisticated environmental cleaning and disinfection in the operating room if a surgical patient hasn’t had her skin cleaned and prepped prior to surgery. I am struck by the thought that the world’s increasing antimicrobial resistance problem is unnecessary. It is a phenomenon that we created and thus, we must be responsible for its elimination. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

Antimicrobial resistance can be combatted with the proper use of antibiotics and effective use of infection control. If you work in the prevention of device-associated infections, surgical site infections or the spread of multi-resistant germs such as KPC, you are decreasing the consumption of broad-spectrum antibiotics and resistance to antimicrobials. Join this fight! Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

La resistencia a los antimicrobianos se combate con el uso adecuado de los antibióticos y además con control de infecciones. Si trabajas en la prevención de infecciones asociadas a dispositivos, las infecciones de sitio quirúrgico o la diseminación de gérmenes multiresistentes como KPC, estas disminuyendo el consumo de antibióticos de amplio espectro y la resistencia a los antimicrobianos. ¡Súmate a esta lucha! Porque todos nosotros debemos ser luchadores contra la Resistencia.

How can we allow the 100-year old Mycobacterium tuberculosis to be smarter than us? My anger starts with the limited impact on AMR and drug-resistant TB. We still are failing to find the missing millions of TB cases and we know that many of these are drug-resistant cases. My hope is that AMR extends from discussions, and countless meetings, to concrete action for people with drug-resistant TB, especially since TB is responsible for 30% of AMR-related deaths. As a physician and Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership, I want to see action, speed, flexibility and impact. We need to move – so what are we waiting for? Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

Antimicrobial resistance threatens not only human health but sustainable development, too. Many people are still pushed into poverty every year because they cannot afford to pay medical bills. Resistant infections last longer, are costlier to treat and make treatment even harder to afford. However, a lot can be done to reduce the occurrence of resistant infections, from reducing antibiotic use to ensuring adequate access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene, which prevent infections from happening in the first place. I research cost effective ways to combat resistance and ways of limiting this threat whilst also ensuring access to effective antibiotics is maintained for those who need them. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

AMR is one of the greatest threats to health and food safety. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people worldwide die as a consequence of resistant microorganisms. If we continue in this way, we could see many millions of casualties each year. I am committed to eliminating antimicrobial resistance, because I do not accept that millions of innocent people need to die as a result of resistant bacteria and other microorganisms. My mission is to save lives by increasing awareness, informing and connecting people. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

The fight against tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most important fights we must engage in. We can’t discuss bringing an end to antimicrobial resistance while TB is ignored. TB is the number one killer of infectious diseases in the world, causing one-third of antimicrobial resistance. I brought this fact to the attention of Heads of state in 2016 during a discussion about antimicrobial resistance at the United Nations. In September 2018, we brought Heads of state together for the first time to discuss TB. I believe that this new attention to TB will make it possible to end the disease. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

The Eastern Africa National Networks of AIDS Service Organizations (EANNASO) works towards strengthening the communities’ voices in various national, regional and global platforms. I work in the TB field because I have seen the challenges to get TB patients to visit health centers to seek care, mainly due to stigma. My work also includes empowering communities, to provide information and make sure that we’re able to bring TB communities together to share experiences and learn from one another. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

Sudan is a big country with 18 states, more than 1,800 tribes and 700 local languages. Addressing TB is a big challenge as it is difficult to reach all parts of the country and raise community awareness about TB. The stigma associated with TB is also a big challenge. In Sudan we have a saying that it is better to ask and learn from people who have experienced the disease than to ask the doctor. That is why in my organization we focus on TB survivors and train them to tell their stories about how they tackled TB. Through them we are able to provide education to other TB patients, to convince them to get care at the health centers and to continue their medication. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

We believe that access to high-quality healthcare is a fundamental human right. At CHAI, I oversee our programs focused on delivering infectious disease care. We focus on the highest-quality treatments that anyone anywhere in the world would expect for themselves or their family. This became real for me when I was diagnosed with a MRSA infection after having surgery. Within a day I had a culture result, a MRSA that was clindamycin-susceptible, and was treated and cured within six days. Programs that can effectively diagnose patients should be readily available throughout the world. So that, regardless of where they live and their economic means, they can have access to exactly the same type of care I’ve had. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

My main drive is testing and surveillance for antimicrobial resistance. Quality data is important for diagnostic stewardship. By improving how we present the laboratory data, we can improve clinician engagement and increase specimen submissions to the laboratory. By providing more timely results and data, we can support the behavioral change of using laboratory data to optimize management critical patients, like those with neonatal sepsis. I think we are on the way and making progress. We have seen minds changing and increased requests for clinical data. The clinical data being generated is also being used for guidelines and policies at the national level. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

I’m part of an amazing team that is working on the AMR threats in Kenya. We recently completed the development of a national action plan. During the 2018 World Antibiotic Awareness Week, we launched two new strategies for Kenya, a communication strategy and a surveillance strategy. The nature of AMR is that it’s a multisectoral problem. It requires a lot of collaboration, a lot of partnerships, and everybody needs to pull their weight together, in alignment. This is required to achieve the big goal that we’ve set forth. And that goal is prevention and containment of AMR. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

I have been working to combat AMR for the last 25 years. I come from Denmark, a country with very low resistance levels and successful containment of antimicrobial resistance. However, I’m fully aware of how big the problem is internationally. I am very happy to be part of the Interdisciplinary Solutions for AMR Center, which will be founded in Denmark and will support middle- and lower-income countries. We know there is a large influx of antimicrobial-resistant organisms coming from all over the world, which we all come in contact with when we are traveling, when our food is traveling and so on. AMR is an increasing problem that needs an international solution. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

The AMR issue is very relevant to the work that we’re doing at FAO, particularly in Africa. As the livestock and agriculture sectors develop, we recognize for sustainable growth that the development of improved farming practices is needed. This includes the importance of addressing safe and effective antibiotic use in aquaculture, fisheries, crop production and forestry and forest products. The implications of antibiotic runoff are highly relevant in Africa, where our waterways are used for bathing, clothes washing and drinking water. And this, to a large extent, is the way that FAO in Africa is supporting and contributing to the one health approach to address antimicrobial resistance. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

Antimicrobial resistance is an important issue for the World Bank for a number of reasons. First, the cost of inaction is huge and no country can afford that cost. We estimate that by 2053, 8% of the world’s GDP will be lost due to antimicrobial resistance. Second, we know that the cost of action is modest relative to the cost of inaction, so the resulting return on investment is strong. Lastly, the nature of the AMR problem requires a multisector approach and the World Bank is a multilateral development bank with multiple sectors. There is a massive opportunity to look at this as not simply a public health threat, but also as something that threatens our economic future, which is why the World Bank is so concerned. Global and local mobilization is required if we are going to make significant progress on AMR in the years to come. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

One of the great struggles of our time is preserving the value of antibiotics and their benefit to health. From research, to health promotion, to working with colleagues in all prescribing professions, our team at the BC Centre for Disease Control is fighting to reduce antibiotic resistance. We work with healthcare professionals and policy makers to limit antibiotics misuse and to implement campaigns to raise awareness and promote good hygiene practices that can prevent infections. But this battle cannot be won by healthcare professionals and legislators alone. Our fight is your fight, too. We need your help combating antimicrobial resistance, every day, through good hygiene at home and at school. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

As an antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist, I witness the impact of antimicrobial resistance daily. I have seen infections due to resistant pathogens lead to potentially fatal delays in effective treatment, and the need to use toxic and otherwise suboptimal antibiotics to manage these infections. This is why I insist on developing personalized antimicrobial regimens to get our patients on the right antibiotic regimen as soon as possible. To do this, I analyze local and national resistance trends, utilize rapid diagnostic tests, assess patient risk factors for drug-resistant infections, and optimize the use of new antimicrobials. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

I have been a clinical microbiologist for more than 40 years. While directing the microbiology laboratories at two different children’s hospitals, I have witnessed how improper antibiotics use has created a global public health crisis of emerging resistant organisms. One of my most important functions is to make sure my laboratory provides physicians with the information they need to make rational antibiotic treatment decisions. New testing technology is enabling us to supply this information in a fraction of the time than we could ten years ago. Clinical microbiologists are proud to be part of the team that is making the world a safer place. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

Combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

Having worked for 30 years to improve tracking, treatment and control of drug-resistant infections, I’m left with no doubt that we face a grave threat from rising antimicrobial resistance. Improving global detection and control is vital to stop the spread of superbugs. My research group is close to bringing bacterial DNA sequencing—the blueprint that helps us understand how these complex pathogens are evolving—into everyday use in settings such as hospitals. And the international expert group, SEDRIC, which I chair, is helping improve global understanding of where and why resistance is emerging and how many people are affected. We need this knowledge to drive changes in human and animal health and the environment to tackle and stop superbugs. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

Early detection, timely treatment, ongoing adherence to a treatment plan and routine monitoring are important to ensuring people living with HIV/AIDS can manage their infections and live healthier lives.

When gaps in routine laboratory monitoring for CD4 and HIV viral load cause resistant strains of the HIV virus to go undetected, it impedes an individual’s survival and enables transmission of resistant infections. This poses a significant challenge to our progress against HIV. At Siriraj Hospital, we offer a free external quality assurance program for CD4 testing labs to ensure all patients have access to quality routine monitoring with CD4. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

As an infectious disease specialist working in Jakarta, Indonesia, we have several policies on antimicrobial stewardship.

Since we were not able to effectively implement these policies for each hospital and needed a more robust implementation program, I created the RASPRO method. At the core of the RASPRO method is an applicative system, “The Rule of 3 PIE,” which runs an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) to ensure prudent use of antibiotics. This method is formulated from more than 120 journals and textbooks, and adjusted to the real-time field situation in each hospital. The latest qualitative antibiotic compliance is more than 70%—we did it! We now have a community of 150 doctors, clinicians, clinical pathologists and clinical microbiologists working together to discuss and impact issues on ASP. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

As a hospital pharmacist, I know that inappropriate use of antimicrobials can create life-threatening risks for patients and reduce the effectiveness of new and existing drugs. This is why I work closely with medical and laboratory teams to ensure patient treatment decisions are based on timely diagnostic tests that accurately identify infectious pathogens. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

As the CEO of a healthcare system, ensuring patient safety and providing quality care are my key areas of focus. This includes reducing the risk of adverse events, such as hospital-acquired infections, and managing resistant organisms in my healthcare system. I want to enable the best possible outcomes for patients and employees while minimizing risks and costs, which is why I deploy rigorous infection prevention guidelines, advocate for strong awareness of antimicrobial stewardship and encourage physicians and partners to use smarter diagnostic practices. As the uncertainty around the financial and regulatory environment continues to increase, I need to work with all of my partners in the healthcare system to reduce costs and risks associated with AMR. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

Combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

Surveillance is critical in identifying alarming trends related to antimicrobial resistance and antibiotics use. As an epidemiologist, I analyze and monitor prescription rates and the types of antibiotics prescribed, as well as resistance patterns of important pathogens. By transforming this raw data into meaningful pictures for healthcare professionals and the public alike, I’m helping all of us to better understand how to slow these trends down, even though we cannot stop them. But this fight cannot be fought by healthcare professionals alone. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

As a microbiologist, I have an up-close view of the antimicrobial resistant bacteria that threaten human lives every day.

My focus is to identify organisms that cause infection, determine if they are resistant to antimicrobials and confirm if there’s a drug that will work. Experts predict that AMR may one day cause more deaths than cancer does today. I am determined to not see that happen, and this is why I am always vigilant against AMR. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

As a mother, I worry about my child’s safety in a world where antibiotics won’t necessarily treat infections. I teach him that good hygiene habits, like washing his hands, are important for staying healthy. Still, it’s impossible to protect him from every germ. When he does get a cold, I no longer insist that his doctor prescribe antibiotics, because I now understand that antibiotics only treat bacterial infections, not viral ones, and that my son should only take them when absolutely necessary. I advocate for education on antibiotics, because no parent should have to fear for their child’s life from illnesses that were once easily curable. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

As a primary care physician, I see many patients with a fever who expect to receive an antibiotic.

But antibiotics cannot cure a viral infection and antibiotic misuse contributes to the spread of AMR, which can be life-threatening for my patients. This is why I insist on getting an accurate diagnostic to guide my antimicrobial prescribing and why I support the efforts to combat AMR. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

As a specialist in infectious diseases, I know that even routine medical procedures can become life-threatening for my patients because of AMR.

This is why I insist on ordering the right diagnostic tests to determine whether an infecting organism is resistant and which drugs will work, as well as ensuring tight adherence to infection control protocols. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

As an infection control practitioner, I realize most patients don’t know that common bacteria, including resistant organisms that may be present on their own skin, can cause life-threatening infections after undergoing surgery.

This is why I ensure careful adherence to patient skin preparation and other protocols to reduce infections associated with surgery or other invasive procedures. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

As a microbiologist, I have an up-close view of the antimicrobial resistant bacteria that threaten human lives every day.

My focus is to identify organisms that cause infection, determine if they are resistant to antimicrobials and confirm if there’s a drug that will work. Experts predict that AMR may one day cause more deaths than cancer does today. I am determined to not see that happen, and this is why I am always vigilant against AMR. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

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My focus is to identify organisms that cause infection, determine if they are resistant to antimicrobials and confirm if there’s a drug that will work. Experts predict that AMR may one day cause more deaths than cancer does today. I am determined to not see that happen, and this is why I am always vigilant against AMR. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

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My focus is to identify organisms that cause infection, determine if they are resistant to antimicrobials and confirm if there’s a drug that will work. Experts predict that AMR may one day cause more deaths than cancer does today. I am determined to not see that happen, and this is why I am always vigilant against AMR. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

Heading 4

My focus is to identify organisms that cause infection, determine if they are resistant to antimicrobials and confirm if there’s a drug that will work. Experts predict that AMR may one day cause more deaths than cancer does today. I am determined to not see that happen, and this is why I am always vigilant against AMR. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

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My focus is to identify organisms that cause infection, determine if they are resistant to antimicrobials and confirm if there’s a drug that will work. Experts predict that AMR may one day cause more deaths than cancer does today. I am determined to not see that happen, and this is why I am always vigilant against AMR. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.

Heading 6

My focus is to identify organisms that cause infection, determine if they are resistant to antimicrobials and confirm if there’s a drug that will work. Experts predict that AMR may one day cause more deaths than cancer does today. I am determined to not see that happen, and this is why I am always vigilant against AMR. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.