Ten years of Antibiotic Guardian

Dr Diane Ashiru-Oredope, our lead pharmacist for AMR, reflects on ten years of the campaign she started to change the way people think about and use antibiotics.

In 2014, when we started the Antibiotic Guardian campaign, we had no dedicated budget. We just had a webpage and a mission – to do something about antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which was and remains one of the biggest threats to healthcare.

Yet, ten years on we’ve now received more than 200,000 pledges of action from more than 120 countries.

Back then, the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy gave us support getting set up, and while lots of organisations were talking about AMR and the consensus that we needed to take action was growing, it was still often an overlooked issue.

We didn’t just want to raise awareness; we aimed to inspire real change. The idea was simple but ambitious: get people, from health workers (across human and animal health) to students and the general public, to think about how they could protect antibiotics in their daily lives.

At the time, signing up for online campaigns and joining websites wasn’t as common as it is today. We asked people to register by email and make a personal pledge to use antibiotics responsibly. It was a novel approach, and looking back now, it’s incredible to see the results.

From Modest Beginnings to Global Reach

What began as a pilot project has grown beyond our initial hopes. With over 200,000 individual pledges from more than 120 countries and more than 1,000 organisational commitments, we are delighted that the Antibiotic Guardian campaign and those who pledged globally have made important contributions to tackling AMR.

Key Achievements of the Last Decade

The campaign has reached significant milestones over the past ten years:

• Widespread Participation: Over 200,000 pledges have been made globally, with individuals committing to specific actions to safeguard antibiotics. The campaign has gone far beyond its UK roots, with pledges from over 120 countries.
• Organisational Pledges: Hospitals, GP practices, and pharmacies are among the 1,000+ organizations that have officially joined the campaign. They’re not just making pledges—they’re integrating stewardship into their everyday operations.
• Policy Integration: Since 2020, the NHS Pharmacy Quality Scheme in England has required community pharmacy teams to pledge to be Antibiotic Guardians. Our materials are now visible in GP practices and pharmacies across the UK. If you’ve seen one, let us know in the comments.
• Academic and Global Recognition: The campaign has generated 10 peer-reviewed publications, strengthening its scientific credibility and influence on public health policy. We've also partnered with global organisations like Africa CDC and WHO Europe, and the campaign is now available in multiple languages, including French and Dutch.
• Linked Resources: From the AG Schools Ambassadors programme to the Shared Learning Platform and Awards, we have developed a range of resources to engage the public and healthcare professionals alike in protecting antibiotics.

From Grassroots to Global Movement

The success of Antibiotic Guardian has been a true grassroots effort, driven by the passion and dedication of people from all walks of life. We’ve never had a budget for paid advertising, but the movement has grown through word of mouth, community efforts, and shared commitment. Hitting 200,000 pledges is a milestone that demonstrates how far-reaching this issue—and our response—has become.

But we’re not stopping here.

Looking Ahead: The Next Chapter

The challenge of AMR remains urgent. Misuse and overuse of antibiotics continues to fuel the problem, and if left unchecked, the effectiveness of these life-saving medicines could be lost.

As we look to the future, we’re more committed than ever to expanding our reach. Antimicrobial stewardship must stay at the forefront of public and healthcare conversations. We’re working hard to ensure antibiotics remain effective for future generations, and we invite you to join us on this journey.

Together, we can continue to make a difference. Here’s to the next decade of stewardship, awareness, and action.

Join us, choose your pledge and become an Antibiotic Guardian today.