Introduction of Human section

This section tells several stories, specifically from India, of how people are reaching out to combat the challenge of antibiotic resistance. When antibiotics stop working, lives are put at risk. People catch infections that can't be treated. Hospitals and it difficult to keep the spread of bacteria under control. Farmers can't treat their animals when they become ill. Our environment poses a threat by spreading antibiotic resistant pathogens in humans and animals. Doctors, scientists, researchers, nurses, campaigners, pharmacist, farmers all need to work in tandem to cope up with the problem.

But while antibiotic resistance poses huge challenges, many new innovations are stopping superbugs in their tracks and helping us to preserve antibiotics for the long term. Can the Indian traditional medicinal herbs or exploration of different ecological niches by our labs provide the solution to the problem?

Human Story 1: Patient

Tells the story of a patient suffering from antibiotic resistant bacterial infection.

Human Story 2: Doctor

Presents the views of a doctor on the issue of antibiotic resistance in India and how to grapple with it.

Human Story 3: Nurse

As antibiotics become less effective, hospitals can no longer rely on antibiotics to treat minor infections. Many patients die of hospital acquired infections of the drug resistant type. A nurse’s role is very important in preventing cross-infections in hospital wards. Here, a nurse tells her side of the story how she uses a variety of techniques to restrict cross-infections.

The objects in this story include copper-plated equipment and a Clinell UV360. The purpose of this story is to demonstrate that hospital settings are changing to adapt to antibiotic resistance, and alterations in this story should reflect this key message.

Human Story 4: Pharmacist

Over the counter sale of antibiotics is rampant in India which is a major cause of the rise in antibiotic resistance. Here we capture in camera the actual happenings in a retail pharmacy shop.

Human Story 5: Designer

Many researchers are designing new molecules and materials that are anti-bacterial in nature. The exhibit will showcase some of these products.

Human Story 6: Poultry Farmer

Animal farmers use antibiotics for therapeutic purposes and also to promote growth. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics leads to bacteria developing resistance to life-saving drugs, which affect humans also. This exhibit depicts how modern poultry farming is trying to minimize use of antibiotics.

Human Story 7: Campaigner

Mass awareness campaigns on issues related to antibiotic resistance is vital to tackle the issue. This exhibit looks at the various campaigns in India especially the Red Line Campaign.

Human Story 8: Environmentalist

The exhibit depicts the role of an environmental scientist in monitoring resistant strains of pathogens in the environment.