Paralympian highlights the importance of antibiotic research

13 September 2016

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

Chris brought attention to the multidrug-resistant bacteria that nearly took his life by working with the Community for Open Antimicrobial Drug Discovery (CO-ADD), based at The University of Queensland.

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 competed at the Rio Paralympic Games in the Australian Wheelchair Rugby Team The Steelers.

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.

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