Stand Up to Superbugs is a diverse group of people from across the U.S. who are working to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria and prevent a return to the pre-antibiotic era when simple infections accounted for at least one-third of all deaths. They do this by supporting three things: innovation to reinvigorate the pipeline of antibiotics in development, the responsible use of existing antibiotics in veterinary and human medicine, and increased federal funding needed to confront one of the greatest public health threats of our time.
This initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts—previously known as Supermoms Against Superbugs—began in 2012 with a group of mothers concerned about the overuse of antibiotics in animal agriculture. Since then, the initiative’s focus and membership have expanded to more comprehensively address the multiple facets of antibiotic resistance.
Stand Up to Superbugs ambassadors include health care professionals, public health officials, scientists, farmers, veterinarians, superbug survivors, and individuals who have lost loved ones to these infections. Many ambassadors have experienced the consequences of antibiotic resistance in a deeply personal way. They understand the urgency of the threat, and know that—as Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar has said—“part of the promise of modern medicine itself is at stake.”
Each year, the Stand Up to Superbugs ambassadors travel to Washington, DC, to meet with their representatives and other policymakers to share their stories and expertise. Outside of DC, the ambassadors help raise awareness and advance the fight against superbugs in their own communities.
Interested in becoming a Stand Up to Superbugs ambassador? Click here to learn more and share your story.