Lifeline, A Musical That Raises The Alarm On Antimicrobial Resistance

The musical Lifeline, which premiered on September 21, 2024, dramatizes the history, present, and future of antibiotics. Historically, antibiotics have saved millions of lives, but they are at risk of being defeated by evolving microbes. Dame Sally Davies, former Chief Medical Officer of England and UK Special Envoy on Antimicrobial Resistance, expressed concern that one in four cancer patients gets a nasty infection without effective antibiotics. The lack of new antibiotics, diagnostics, and therapeutics increases the danger of antibiotic resistance. Traditional diagnostics and therapeutics are insufficient for the ever-evolving pathogens of today. New rapid diagnostics can help AI infectious disease platforms recommend the best antibiotic regimen for individual patients, raising awareness and reducing antibiotic misuse.