Do you happen to have leftover antibiotics somewhere in your house? Have you ever stopped an antibiotic course early, stored leftover antibiotics prescribed for you, and planned to use or share them with someone else in the future?If your answer is yes, then I must tell you straight away that this is not a good...
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a very complex topic, rather tough to explain. It involves the ability of microorganisms, such as bacteria, to resist the effects of antimicrobial medicines, including antibiotics, which are used to treat infections. For this reason, there are several common misconceptions, myths and false perceptions around this subject.For example, have you ever...
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a natural phenomenon occurring when microorganisms – such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites – become resistant to the antimicrobial medicines designed to fight them. In other words, these medicines become less and less effective or totally ineffective in treating the infections caused by these resistant microorganisms. That’s why AMR is...
What are antifungal medicines? And what does antifungal resistance mean? Is it somehow related to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)? At first glance, these topics may seem difficult to understand. But do not worry, in this blog we will try to shed light on them.As always, let’s begin with basic concepts. What are antimicrobials? They are medications...
Can diagnostic tests help to identify Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)? Yes, of course they can! In this short blog we will learn what diagnostic tests are, and their valuable role in the management of infections, especially of those ones caused by Antimicrobial Resistant germs.Let’s start from the basics. Diagnostic tests can detect the presence or absence of...
What is Pseudomonas aeruginosa and how does AMR play a role?Author: Arnav Padhi Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterium, which is mainly found in hospital environments, causing infections in the bloodstream, urinary tract, lungs, surgical wounds and burns. It is commonly seen in those nursed in intensive care units requiring mechanical help with their breathing. This bacteria...
Chris Shaffer was a music, special education teacher, and high school principal for 45 years. At the end of his educational career, he was thrust into the world of AMR infections when a number of abdominal surgeries left him with an E-coli infection which failed to respond to antibiotics. After doctors in the USA left him with little hope for a cure, diminishing health, and a bleak prognosis, he set out on his own.
Chris found success in phage therapy at the Eliava Phage Therapy Center in Tbilisi, Georgia. With phage therapy giving Chris his life back, he has dedicated his retirement years to advocating for and helping raise awareness of phage therapy used for AMR infections. He tells the story of his phage journey in a book titled, Finding Phage: How I Partnered with a Friendly Virus to Cure My Deadly Bacterial Superinfection. His website, phagetherpyusa.com helps others learn to understand the healing power of phage therapy.
Demi is an Associate Scientific Director at a medical communications agency, with a background in microbiology and a longstanding focus on antimicrobial resistance. She holds an MSc in Microbiology, where she first became interested in the global challenge of resistance and the need to bring scientific understanding to wider audiences.
Demi’s career has centred on a simple but powerful belief: that how we communicate science matters. Her work focuses on making complex data clear, engaging, and accessible – whether for healthcare professionals, policy makers, or the patients most affected by infection and resistance. She has contributed to a wide range of AMR-focused projects, including educational programmes, congress communications and stewardship initiatives.
A central thread in Demi’s work is the importance of the patient voice. She is passionate about making sure real-world experiences of treatment failure, recurrent infections, and the anxiety surrounding resistance are not lost in the data. She believes that listening to patients and involving them meaningfully is essential for shaping more effective, human-centred responses to AMR.
Demi is also a strong advocate of the One Health approach, recognising AMR as a complex, interconnected issue that spans human health, animal health, and the environment. She is particularly drawn to efforts that move beyond siloed thinking and focus on practical, joined-up solutions.
In 2025, Demi joined The AMR Narrative as an Independent Advisor, where she supports the charity’s mission to centre communication, community, and inclusion in the global AMR response.
Outside of work, she is a Girlguiding unit leader and a qualified yoga teacher. These roles reflect her commitment to care, learning, and creating supportive spaces for others.
Andrea has worked in health communications and campaigning for 3 decades. She is committed to fighting AMR through timely and appropriate communications globally,.
Andrea set up Skating Panda, the creative social and environmental impact consultancy, over a decade ago and drives its impact and growth. Focused on original and lasting public interest communications as well as issue strategy and advocacy, the Panda team has a track record of prompting tipping points in the status quo that drive better social and planetary outcomes.
Andrea’s combination of commercial marketing and development experience with deep issue knowledge have been sought by decision-makers at global summits, corporate and NGO board members, and have enabled her to set up multi-million fundraising platforms and push through policies that change and save lives.
Andrea is Vice Chair of mothers2mothers, the world’s largest employer of women living with HIV, and a Board Director of Maymessy, a food poverty social enterprise.
A lifelong advocate for gender equality, she played a key role in establishing the UK’s Women’s Equality Party.
Professor Esmita Charani is a pharmacist and researcher investigating how we use antibiotics in different cultural and social contexts. She works with teams in the UK, India, and South Africa to develop research programmes investigating all aspects of antimicrobial resistance in human populations with a focus in hospital settings.
She has experience in communicating her research with patients and the public through various media including animations, blogs, and educational videos.
