Paralympian highlights the importance of antibiotic research

Paralympian Chris Bond was 19 when a severe bacterial infection in his bowel spread through his body and sent him into septic shock.

Today, on World Sepsis Day (13 September), Chris is working with the Community for Open Antimicrobial Drug Discovery (CO-ADD), based at The University of Queensland, to bring attention to the multidrug-resistant bacteria that nearly took his life.

Chris contracted the bacterial infection while being treated for a rare form of leukemia.

With his life on the line, doctors made the decision to amputate both his legs below the knee, his left wrist and all but one of his fingers on his right hand, so he could continue his cancer treatment. Current antibiotics alone were not enough to save Chris.

Chris is now one of the world’s best wheelchair rugby players, and is competing at the Rio Paralympic Games in the Australian Wheelchair Rugby Team The Steelers.

The team’s first match is at 10.30pm (AEST) tomorrow (14 September).

Chris, who believes multidrug-resistant bacteria, also known as superbugs, is one of the world’s greatest challenges, has become an ambassador for CO-ADD.

Watch more of his story below:

If you would like to donate to CO-ADD research please find the details here.

Media: CO-ADD media Ruth Neale, r.neale1@uq.edu.au, 07 3346 2389 or 0487 955 790.