Memes meet microbes: spreading awareness about antimicrobial resistance

This article explains how Australia’s AMR Action Initiative uses humour and internet culture to make the complex issue of antimicrobial resistance easier to understand and more engaging for the general public. By turning key AMR messages into relatable memes, the campaign helps people grasp that it’s microbes—not humans—that develop resistance, and that misuse of antibiotics accelerates this process. The piece also emphasises the One Health reality: human health, animal health, agriculture and the environment all play interconnected roles in the spread of resistant microbes. Through simple, practical advice—such as avoiding antibiotics for viral infections, practising good hygiene, following veterinary guidance, and disposing of unused medicines safely—the initiative empowers individuals to contribute to slowing AMR. By blending science with humour, the campaign aims to reach new audiences, shift public perceptions, and strengthen community understanding of one of the most urgent global health challenges.