Her story on the sepsis crisis in newborns was recognised by the Global AMR Media Alliance for its impact on raising awareness of antimicrobial resistance.
Everybody in the health field has a part to play in addressing antimicrobial resistance, and journalists are no exception.
This week, our own Amanda Sheppeard was recognised for her contribution at the Global AMR Media Awards 2025 for her story Antibiotic resistance fuels sepsis crisis in newborns.
The article, published last month, highlighted urgent calls from Australian researchers for the overhaul of frontline treatment and diagnostic guidelines, with research showing most infections in babies in Indonesia, the Philippines and three other Southeast Asian countries were caused by bacteria that did not respond to first-line WHO recommended treatments.
Ms Sheppeard’s piece also drew attention to the need for localised surveillance, rather than relying on data from high-income countries to produce guidelines.
“Guidelines must be updated to reflect local bacterial profiles and known resistance patterns. Otherwise, mortality rates are only going to keep climbing,” said Associate Professor Phoebe Williams, a senior lecturer and NHMRC fellow in the Sydney School of Public Health.
Michelle Harrison, PhD candidate and project coordinator of the Neonatal Sepsis in Southeast Asia and the Pacific collaboration (NeoSEAP) in the Sydney School of Public Health, said the lack of new antimicrobials made the problem even worse.
“It takes about 10 years for a new antibiotic to be trialled and approved for babies. With so few new drug candidates in the first place, we need a significant investment in antibiotic development,” Ms Harrison said.
The article came second in the Asia Pacific region (just behind an entry from the BBC). It was the only Australian work represented among the winners, which included stories from Nature, AFP, NPR, New York Times and Times of India. There were over 300 entries in this year’s pool, from Africa, the Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas, and 27 awardees. The winning stories were chosen by a panel of 34 judges from 14 countries in Africa and the Asia Pacific.
Ms Sheppeard still doesn’t know who nominated her for the award. (So if it was you, let us know!)
She said her takeaway from the experience was an awareness that we all need to do more about antimicrobial resistance, not least of all journalists.
“I don’t think people understand what will happen if we don’t do enough,” she said.
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“People are already dying from infections that they shouldn’t be dying from. During the time that the award ceremony was taking place, around 100 people died because of antimicrobial resistance. Journalists need to be telling that story.”
The award presentation was preceded by the 5th Annual Global Media Forum on Antimicrobial Resistance, during which experts from the WHO and leading research and clinical organisations around the world spoke about efforts to stem the tide of consequences from antimicrobial resistance. And some people had personal stories to tell.
“One woman told of her horrific experience after contracting a resistant infection after a car accident. Other people have lost limbs, eyes. But the worst of this happens in developing countries,” said Ms Sheppeard.
Experts also told assembled journalists that although many jurisdictions had national plans of action, they often languished, remaining unread, unactioned and quickly forgotten. Australia contributes to a global fund, but not all wealthy nations do, she heard.
“We all need to do more,” said Ms Sheppeard, who is not used to being on the spotlight end of an interview and was keen to throw all the attention on the important message.
But we at The Moose Republic (the publisher of this magazine) are proud of our managing editor, who has spent a lifetime investigating and reporting on health issues. This is just one instance where formal recognition has turned eyes towards her. And however awkward that makes her feel, we think she deserves the applause.
You can read her winning story here.
