The Short :StoryBug aims to place the science around AMR in a real-life , accessible context with the focus on the human impact of AMR and antibiotic use by creating and sharing personal stories told by people who have either an experience of a resistant infection, or one related to antibiotic use.

It is easy to feel disconnected from AMR because it often happens to someone else, or seems to be a threat in the future, but in reality, in the UK alone there were 87,500 deaths involving bacterial infection in 2019. 1

StoryBug aims to nurture a connection, an awareness – not to scaremonger – but so we can all use antibiotics more wisely and help ensure that we keep antibiotics working for those who really need them (and that might include you too).

The Long: By sharing the personal stories of individuals who have encounters with antibiotics, or who have first-hand experience of resistant infections, StoryBug wants to harness the energy of personal stories to help shape the mindset of reader, listener, or viewer and in doing so, enrich their engagement with this pressing issue.

In making these stories, StoryBug strives for authenticity and makes the storyteller – the person who has the experience – front and centre. The storyteller is the powerhouse that drives the story forward (effectively the protagonist of the tale).

The personal experiences of people who share their stories with StoryBug may take various forms including short videos (digital stories), audio or written text but they all relate to the experiences of real people.

Reference:
1. UK Government. Confronting antimicrobial resistance. 5-year National Action Plan 2024-29. May2024.