Nour Shamas

Country: Lebanon

Nour’s mother first developed an infection of her kidneys and urinary tract a few months after a surgery on her spinal column. Her infection was caused by drug resistant bacteria, which required some isolation from others and the use of higher generation antibiotics. It was the beginning of a series of hospitalizations, treatment failures and even home administration of intravenous antibiotics - all complicated by the weak health system in Lebanon. Even as an infectious disease clinical pharmacist, Nour felt helpless about her mothers’ situation. This feeling of helplessness inspired her become a champion for AMR in the Middle East. Nour is now working for the Ministry of National Guard- Health Affairs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and chairs the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program.