IDSA : Patient Stories

Patient Stories

Many patients and their families have suffered the debilitating effects of antibiotic-resistant infections. Indeed, many patients have lost their lives due to these infections. The compelling and heart-wrenching stories below engender a strong sense of urgency to address drug-resistant infections and the lack of new antibiotic development. If you would like to share your story, please contact John Heys at jheys@idsociety.org.

Addie Rerecich
A healthy 11-year-old girl from Tucson, Ariz., who spent months in the hospital fighting several antibiotic-resistant infections and needed a lung transplant to save her life.
Josh Nahum
A 27-year-old skydiving instructor in Colorado who died from an antibiotic-resistant Enterobacter aerogenes infection.
Carlos Don
A healthy 12-year old athlete from Southern California who died of pneumonia caused by an MRSA infection.
Ricky Lannetti
A healthy 21-year old football player at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania who contracted MRSA and did not survive the infection.
Addie Rerecich
Josh Nahum
Carlos Don
Ricky Lannetti

TAKE ACTION!

What can you do to help? Urge Congress to pass legislation to spur research and development of new antibiotics, as part of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) reauthorization bill. Send an email to your congressional representatives today.

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Addie Rerecich
A healthy 11-year-old girl from Tucson, Ariz., who spent months in the hospital fighting several antibiotic-resistant infections and needed a lung transplant to save her life.
David Ricci
A 19-year-old from the Seattle area battles several NDM-1 positive antibiotic-resistant infections as he recovers from a train accident that cost him his right leg.
Josh Nahum
A 27-year-old skydiving instructor in Colorado who died from an antibiotic-resistant Enterobacter aerogenes infection.
Carlos Don
A healthy 12-year old athlete from Southern California who died of pneumonia caused by an MRSA infection.
Brock Wade
An active, sports-driven 9-year-old boy survives a terrifying invasive infection and pneumonia caused by MRSA.
Tom Dukes
A healthy and active father in Southern California whose life was torn apart by a painful and drug-resistant E. coli infection.
Rebecca Lohsen
A healthy 17-year old high school honor student and swimmer from Northern New Jersey who died of an MRSA infection.
Brandon Noble
Former Washington Redskins defensive tackle who had recurring serious MRSA infections in his knee.
Bryce Smith
A healthy 14-month old from Santee, California who contracted MRSA and spent many harrowing weeks in the intensive care unit as doctors struggled to save his life.
Dee Dee Wallace
A Wisconsin woman nearly loses her leg, and her life, to MRSA.
Joan Corboy
An Illinois woman nearly loses her life while struggling with a recurrent and drug-resistant C. difficile infection.
Ricky Lannetti
A healthy 21-year old football player at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania who contracted MRSA and did not survive the infection.
Simon Macario
Simon, a healthy baby from Chicago, who contracted MRSA and did not survive his infection.
Nicholas Johnson
A healthy 12-year-old from Texas who nearly died from an MRSA infection.

Patient Stories

TAKE ACTION!

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Infectious Diseases Society of America