CATHERINE MUROMBEDZI
HEALTH CORRESPONDENT

Then, aged 25, Vanessa Carter survived a horrific road traffic accident in Johannesburg, South Africa. The following 10 years saw her life riddled with a series of challenges.
Carter is grateful for the support she received from her family in fighting antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Speaking in one of the monthly AMR dialogues by Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA), which is an open forum working to raise awareness and increase engagement of journalists and other media actors globally, Carter brought a human face to AMR.
She urged the media to have more collaborations with partners and stakeholders to amplify AMR.
Merging the voices of antimicrobial resistance survivors, the World Health Organization (WHO) has formed an AMR Survivors Task Force. The survivors tell their struggles to victory. Their lived realities make them expert patients who speak as survivors. They are experts, putting a face to the crisis.
This initiative informs policy, raises awareness, and sparks action, empowering survivors to drive change and shape the global response to this pressing threat.
Carter is a member of the task force.
She had been on different antibiotic regimens, all failing to make any difference.
“The severe injuries I sustained in the car crash in Johannesburg, South Africa, left me with several internal organs damaged. I was internally bleeding. I had serious fractures and facial wounds. I stayed in the intensive care unit for many days.
For over a decade, I underwent multiple facial reconstruction surgeries. “However, soon after receiving a facial prosthetic, I noticed fluid leaking from my face. An emergency procedure to clean the infected prosthetic only made things worse,” said Carter, addressing the media in the interactive virtual meeting moderated by CNS Health Editor, Shobha Shuklar.
“I then faced a relentless battle against infection after infection. Despite the doctors’ best efforts with antibiotics, the infections persisted, causing further facial deterioration and making it impossible for me to wear a prosthetic eye. The doctors tried a stronger antibiotic regimen after another, all without success. My life was now a series of challenge after challenge,” said Carter.
“My family advocated for care, pushing for experimental treatments and alternative therapies when traditional antibiotics had failed. They provided me with the emotional support, staying by my side throughout the ordeal, and helping me stay positive and motivated,” said Carter.
With the hospital stay running long, her family stepped in as caregivers.
“Family members took on caregiving responsibilities, assisting with daily tasks and supporting me during treatment and later on, during rehabilitation. They helped navigate the complex medical system, ensuring I received the best possible care. The family support encouraged me to keep fighting, even when my chances of survival seemed slim,” said Carter, who had a fighting spirit.
“It wasn’t until clinical pathologists discovered Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in my facial prosthetic that the medical team could adjust their treatment approach,” she said.
Carter was in and out of surgery, all taking a severe toll on her.
“After another surgery and rotating antibiotics, my face finally began to heal after three months. Years passed before I felt comfortable in public without covering my face,” said Carter.
Her story highlights the devastating effects of AMR.

After completing treatment, Carter was disfigured, couldn’t walk, and needed help with the basics that she used to take by herself.
“The long rehabilitation process was demanding and tiring. My family did not give up. They were my pillar in regaining strength and independence. Their unwavering dedication and love helped me overcome the physical and emotional challenges posed by AMR.
“My family support was my lifeline. Without them, I wouldn’t be here today,” were the touching words that still echo in my ears when I hear of AMR.
Her severe experience with AMR inspired her to become an advocate for antibiotic stewardship and infection prevention. She has shared her story globally, raising awareness about the dangers of AMR and the need for responsible antibiotic use.
Carter is bringing AMR closer home. She has put a face to the statistics, making AMR more relatable and personal.
She is driving change, inspiring action in the medical fraternity to change and carry out more research. She is encouraging individuals and organisations to take concrete steps against AMR.
As she speaks in high-level meetings, she facilitates connections between survivors, researchers, policymakers, and healthcare professionals.
Today, Carter continues to work as an activist, using her platform to educate others about AMR and promote global action to combat this growing health threat.
While the medical fraternity is making strides in tackling AMR, more still needs to be done.
Felix Liauw, a pediatrician in Jakarta, Indonesia, speaking in another GAMA virtual AMR awareness meeting, brought reality closer home in babies, saying the time to act on antimicrobial resistance is now. The silent pandemic has gathered a storm unseen by the naked eye.
“The medical fraternity is growing awareness on AMR, but there is still room for improvement. Most healthcare professionals now recognise AMR as a significant threat to public health. Many are familiar with the risks of antibiotic overuse and misuse. “However, there are gaps. Some clinicians may not be up-to-date on the latest AMR trends, mechanisms, and management strategies. In some settings, antibiotics may still be prescribed unnecessarily or inappropriately.
“Diagnostic stewardship, which is optimising diagnostic testing and infection prevention practices, may not be implemented, as was the case with my son,” said Felix.
While the medical fraternity has made progress in recognising the AMR threat, ongoing education, training, and efforts to optimise practices are essential to combat this growing scourge.
AMR, a silent pandemic, has been gathering moss over decades of antibiotics misuse in humans and animals.

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