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AMR and AR: Antimicrobial Resistance and Augmented Reality

US immersive installation 2024: The Pathogen of War

https://blackleaf-films.co.uk/films/the-pathogen-of-war-in-production/282

This interactive work extrapolates from real biography and science to create a speculative but possible near future, through which to explore causes and dangers of antibiotic resistance.

The Pathogen of War takes you forward to a time after the Bio-Rift - the period when all bacteria became resistant to our antibiotics, resulting in the deaths of around half the human population.

Set in the future “Museum of Medical Archaeology", the show outlines the causes of the Bio-Rift and explores how war has biological consequences which can threaten the viability of antibiotics, and our health, globally.

...Today, in 2024, Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the most antibiotic resistant pathogens and is estimated to kill between 50,000-100,000 people a year....

Iraqi doctor turned medical anthropologist Dr. Omar Dewachi takes the audience on a personal journey through Iraq’s recent history, and on how Acinetobacter baumannii went from being a relatively benign bacteria, to a “perfect killer”, also known by its US moniker ‘Iraqibacter’ or the ‘invisible enemy’.

The show will reveal the many layers of this bacteria’s social history – from the microscopic to the geopolitical, unearthing how the consequences of war can drive pathogens, which threaten the viability of antibiotics, and our health, globally.

World Premiere at CPH:Dox Inter:Active Exhibition March 2024.

Description • Credits

Multi-media interactive documentary installation.
30 mins.

The Pathogen of War is based on the personal story and research of Dr. Omar Dewachi. He is an associate professor of medical anthropology and global health at Rutgers University, New Jersey. His work examines the social, medical, and environmental fallouts of decades of war and violence in Iraq and the broader Middle East.

The United Nations and other international agencies released a report in 2019 warning of the dangers of the rise of antibiotic resistance. If no action is taken, they warned that drug-resistant bacterial diseases could cause 10 million deaths each year by 2050 and this would also cause much damage to the global economy. By 2030, antimicrobial resistance could force up to 24 million people into extreme poverty.

The World Health Organization has classified the superbug Acinetobacter baumannii, as a ‘critical’ threat among its ‘priority pathogens’, a group of bacteria families that pose the greatest threat to human health. It also stands out as one of the most common pathogens associated with military conflicts.

In May 2023, there were news reports that AI had been used to find antibiotics that could treat infections caused by Acinetobacter baumannii.

The solutions put forth to tackle rising antimicrobial resistance fail to take into account the challenges of the health effects of warfare.

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5. Vaxcards 2016 (cartoon disease characters): A Game of Infectious Disease and Fun Battle friends with grotesque, lovable, collectable diseases in the world's first immunization card game!Battle friends with grotesque, lovable, collectable diseases in the world's first immunization card game!Battle friends with grotesque, lovable, collectable diseases in the world's first immunization card game!Battle friends with grotesque, lovable, collectable diseases in the world's first immunization card game!Battle friends with grotesque, lovable, collectable diseases in the world's first immunization card game!
9. The Lancet 2024: WHO Task Force of AMR Survivors – personal stories
11. Singapore comic 2022: "The Antibiotic Tales"
15. US animated explainer 2018: "Antibiotics vs. Bacteria: Fighting the Resistance" 5 min 48 sec. MedlinePlus, United States National Institutes of Health, Mar 14, 2018 "How do we stay safe from the growing epidemic of antibiotic resistant bacteria? NIAID is researching ways to keep us safe…. Chapters: 0:38 Antimicrobial resistance epidemiology. 1:02 Examples of resistant bacteria. 1:11 Tuberculosis. 1:31 Gonorrhea. 1:46 MRSA. 2:13 How does antimicrobial resistance occur? 3:25 What can you do to fight antimicrobial resistance? 4:32 Research at NIAID."
17. Spain PSA 2020 (hairbrush): "Antibiotics CANNOT be used for everything" Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios (AEMPS), Nov 17, 2020. "Things should be used for what they’re meant to be used for, and if not, they may hurt you. Antibiotics treat infections caused by bacteria; they do NOT cure viruses like the flu or colds, or relieve pain or fever. To make sure they keep working, only use them with a prescription. Both in humans and in animals. Because NO, antibiotics CANNOT be used for everything. Government of Spain."
20. Cambodia youth-led creativity 2024: "Breaking behavioural barriers: Fighting antibiotic misuse" Applying the principles and practices of the Communication for Health (C4H) approach, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a pilot campaign targeted at university students and youth in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh. Running for two weeks in December 2023, the campaign, both online and offline, employed humour and behavioural insights and resulted in more than a 30% increase in knowledge around the responsible use of antibiotics.
22. Spain PSA 2023 (bodyguards): "Antibiotics: Their job is to protect us. Your job is to use them wisely." Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios (AEMPS), Nov 3, 2023. "They are specialists. And their job is to protect us. But if we ask them to do things they're not intended to do, they won’t be able to protect us when we need them, and we end up putting the health of people, animals and the environment at risk. Antibiotics: Their job is to protect us. Your job is to use them wisely. Government of Spain."
25. Global AMR Diary 2024: Collective storytelling to shift perspectives and shape policy
27. Image Comics 2017: "Surgeon X" trailer https://surgeonx.co.uk/ From writer Sara Kenney and artist John Watkiss, published by Image Comics. Set against the backdrop of an antibiotic apocalypse in near future London, Rosa Scott, a brilliant and obsessive surgeon becomes Surgeon X, a vigilante doctor who uses experimental surgery and black market drugs to treat patients. Surgeon X risks everything to save lives, but ultimately ends up warping her medical oath to suit her own decisions.
28. Singapore PSA 2018 (boxing ring): "Are your antibiotics in the wrong fight?”
31. Data Visualization 2014: "The Antibiotic Abacus," Information Is Beautiful
40. Canada personal story 2019: "Keep antibiotics working: A patient’s perspective"
41. UN animated explainer 2019 : "Antimicrobial Resistance Video - Asia and the Pacific Region (FAO, OIE, WHO, UNEP)"
43. Singapore PSA 2019 (singing pill): "I’m not the one you need (to recover faster)" Singapore’s Health Promotion Board (HPB), Nov 3, 2019. "[Music] I know you're down with the flu, and your work is piling up now. But trust me, I'm not the one. I'm not the one for you. I'm not the one you need to recover faster…. Everytime she goes 'achoo' and you want her to be well, now. But trust me, I'm not the one. [refrain] I know that cough annoys you, and I really want to help you, but I have no clue. [Refrain] [End music] Antibiotics will not help you recover faster from the flu, because they don't work on the flu virus. Check with your doctor on the treatment you need."
44. Center for Accountability in Science PSA 2016 (green monster): "Fighting Antibiotic Resistance"
48. Singapore PSA 2018 (working late): "Antibiotics just don’t work on the flu virus."
49. Singapore PSA 2022: "Don’t Play Doctor!" Singapore’s Health Promotion Board (HPB), Dec 15, 2022. "Actually, my strep throat doesn't hurt anymore. I'll just take one pill instead of two. Are you a doctor? Well, I feel better now. Misusing antibiotics can cause longer recovery time, and ineffective future treatments due to infections becoming antibiotic resistant. Remember, don't play doctor. Your friend, eh? Whoa, I need to share this."
50. UK explainer 2021: "Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) - What does it mean and why it matters" 4 min 31 sec. UK Health Security Agency, Nov 19, 2021. "In this video explainer, Dr Diane Ashiru-Oredope PhD, Pharmacist Lead for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Stewardship and HCAI at the UK Health Security Agency, explains what AMR means and why it matters. What role do these microbes have on our planet? How do antimicrobials work? What are the origins of antimicrobial resistance and more importantly, what can you do to help reduce it? Chapters: 00:00 What are microbes? 00:35 Antimicrobials. 01:30 What is AMR? 03:02 How to reduce AMR"
51. Quadripartite Working Group on Youth Engagement for AMR
60. Amoeba Sisters explainer 2018: "Antibiotics, Antivirals, and Vaccines"
61. SciShow explainer 2023: "Antibiotic Resistance is SO COMPLICATED"
62. BBC StoryWorks documentary 2023: "Race Against Resistance: The Life And Death Struggle To Save Antibiotics" 36 min 4 sec. BBC StoryWorks, Sep 5, 2023. "From Tori, a college gymnast, who faced a once curable infection that escalated into a life-threatening crisis, to Kerry, battling relentless superbugs with numerous antibiotics after what seemed like a simple ear infection. Their experiences are not isolated incidents, as resistance to ordinary antibiotics is rising. Antimicrobial resistance is rapidly becoming one of the most severe global health crises, causing great concern throughout the scientific and medical communities. This documentary-style film sheds light on the alarming reality of this ticking time bomb and the efforts of doctors, scientists, and experts who are relentlessly working to safeguard the health and well-being of generations to come through ground-breaking research and innovative solutions."