The AMR Narrative

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Breaking down the science of AMR for patients and the public

Breaking down the science of AMR for patients and the public

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Joining Details

Moderator: Natalie Vestin (@CIDRAP_ASP) and Vanessa Carter (@theAMRnarrative)
Date: Tuesday, 17 October 2023
Where: X.com (Previously Twitter)
Time: 3 pm GMT (4 pm BST, 5 pm CAT/CEST, 11 am EDT)
Hashtag to use: #theAMRnarrative

 

How to participate:
Join us for a 60-minute dialogue on X.com (Previously Twitter) with our panel experts. All stakeholders are welcome to join in.

Start your answers with T1, T2, T3, T4, or CT for transcript purposes.
Answer only after the moderator prompts. Questions will be prompted every 10 minutes but keep answers coming using the relevant T and number. Both panel experts and the public are encouraged to answer.

IMPORTANT! Use the #theAMRnarrative hashtag in all your tweets so that you are visible to others in the chat and captured on the transcript.

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Overview

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a complex and highly scientific topic that has far-reaching implications for public health. The rise of AMR poses a significant threat to our ability to treat common infections and diseases effectively. However, one of the major hurdles in combating AMR lies in the difficulties faced by patients and the public in seeking accurate and understandable information about this critical issue. In this dialogue on X.com, we will explore the challenges individuals encounter when trying to comprehend AMR and why it is essential to improve awareness and education, especially for diseases impacted by AMR, including rare diseases, cancer, urinary tract infections, TB (Tuberculosis), respiratory tract infections, neglected tropical diseases, dentistry, and other conditions. Common surgeries also place risks on patients when it comes to developing infections, including those that may be resistant to the antimicrobials (e.g., antibiotics) used to prevent or treat them.

AMR is often discussed using a jargon jungle of terminology that can be baffling to the average person. Terms like “antibiotic resistance genes,” “horizontal gene transfer,” and “selective pressure” can leave individuals feeling overwhelmed and confused. This scientific jargon creates a significant barrier for patients and the public who want to understand the basics of AMR.

Another challenge is the scarcity of user-friendly resources that explain AMR in simple terms. While there is a wealth of scientific literature on the subject, finding resources that break down the information into understandable language can be like searching for a needle in a haystack. Patients and their families often struggle to access reliable information that they can use to make informed decisions about their health.

On the flip side, there is also a risk of encountering misinformation or oversimplified explanations of AMR. Some sources may downplay the severity of the issue or offer quick-fix solutions that do not align with scientific consensus. This can lead to misconceptions and potentially harmful practices, such as self-medicating with antibiotics. Language barriers can also be problematic when it comes to breaking down the science of AMR.

When patients and the general public lack the chance to grasp the concept of AMR, they find themselves unable to engage in its prevention and control. Providing accessible education and awareness stands as a crucial cornerstone for empowerment.

 

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Questions:
– Introductions first few minutes, then questions every 10 minutes thereafter
T1: How would you describe Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) to patients or the public?
T2: Why do you think Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is too scientific for many patients and the public?
T3: How do you think we can break down the science of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) for patients and the public?
T4: What role could charities, patient advocates and other civil society organisations play in breaking down the science of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)?
T5: How can health professionals, or health organisations play a role in breaking down the science of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) for patients and the public?
CT: Any thoughts you would like to add about breaking down the science of AMR for patients and the public?

 

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Notes: Prior to the event, review the University of Minnesota’s Social Media House Rules for a code of conduct applicable to this event.

 

Read more about the event on CIDRAP’s website here.

Info
Category: ,
Date: October 17, 2023
Duration: 1 Day

Chris Shaffer

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 Christofi

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 Hartley

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.

Esmita Charani

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.