Linda Ellard Launches Personal Pledge on Antibiotic Awareness
TULSA, Okla. – September 1, 2026 – Linda Ellard, an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse and Clinical Nurse Specialist (APRN-CNS), is launching a personal pledge focused on antibiotic awareness and antimicrobial resistance.
The pledge reflects lessons Ellard has developed across a nursing career that began in Tulsa in 2009. Her experience includes burn nursing, hospital medicine, infectious disease, chronic pain management, addiction treatment, and wound care.
Since 2019, infectious disease has been a central part of her advanced practice work.
Antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, occurs when microorganisms stop responding to medicines intended to treat them. The issue has become increasingly urgent. The World Health Organization reported in July 2026 that roughly one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections worldwide in 2023 were resistant to antibiotics. WHO also estimates that bacterial AMR was associated with more than 4.7 million deaths globally in 2021.
In the United States, the CDC reports more than 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infections each year. It also estimates that at least 28% of antibiotics prescribed in outpatient settings are unnecessary.
For Ellard, the pledge is about turning awareness into everyday behavior.
“Patience and compassion for patients” are two principles that have guided her clinical work, Ellard said.
She also believes good intentions have to be paired with action and accountability.
“I learned to never delay care again and consult other specialists while waiting for lab results,” Ellard said of an experience earlier in her advanced practice career.
That lesson helped shape the pledge.
Linda Ellard’s Seven Personal Commitments
Ellard’s pledge includes seven behaviors she intends to carry into her professional approach:
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I will ask whether an antibiotic is clinically indicated rather than treating it as an automatic response to illness.
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I will pay attention to available clinical information, including relevant testing and patient history, when antibiotic decisions are being considered.
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I will communicate clearly about why an antibiotic is or is not appropriate within my professional role.
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I will prioritize timely follow-up when results or changes in a patient’s condition could affect the next clinical decision.
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I will seek appropriate specialist input when a case requires knowledge or intervention beyond my scope.
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I will continue learning from infectious disease colleagues, other specialists, and peer feedback.
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I will encourage patients to ask informed questions about antibiotics rather than assuming every infection requires one.
The approach is consistent with another principle Ellard uses when setting professional goals.
“I try to plan out my goals in a realistic manner, then try to achieve each goal individually,” she said.
She also credits “feedback from peers and setting my own standards” with helping her continue to improve.
Why Antibiotic Awareness Matters Now
The numbers show why individual awareness matters alongside larger healthcare efforts.
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1 in 6: Approximately one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections worldwide in 2023 showed resistance to antibiotic treatment.
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4.7 million+: Bacterial antimicrobial resistance was associated with more than 4.7 million deaths globally in 2021.
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2.8 million+: More than 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infections occur in the United States each year.
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28%: At least 28% of antibiotics prescribed in U.S. outpatient settings are considered unnecessary.
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39 million: Drug-resistant infections could cause an estimated 39 million deaths worldwide between 2025 and 2050 without sufficient action.
These figures do not mean people should avoid antibiotics when they are medically appropriate. Antibiotics remain essential treatments. The goal of stewardship is appropriate use—using antibiotics when they provide a clear health benefit and using them appropriately when prescribed.
Do It Yourself: 10 Free Actions for Antibiotic Awareness
Individuals can support responsible antibiotic use without purchasing a program or service.
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Ask your licensed healthcare professional whether an antibiotic is necessary for your condition.
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Ask what available information suggests the illness is bacterial rather than viral.
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Take prescribed antibiotics exactly as directed.
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Do not use someone else’s prescription.
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Do not pressure a healthcare professional for antibiotics when they are not recommended.
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Ask what symptoms should prompt additional medical attention.
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Keep track of medication allergies and previous adverse reactions.
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Write down questions before a healthcare appointment.
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Use reliable public-health sources such as CDC and WHO when learning about antibiotic resistance.
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Practice basic infection-prevention habits, including appropriate hand hygiene, to help reduce the spread of infections.
The toolkit is educational and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice.
A Simple 30-Day Progress Tracker
For the next 30 days, participants can track four habits each week:
Days 1–7: Learn the difference between antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and other antimicrobial medicines. Write down one question you would ask before taking an antibiotic.
Days 8–14: Review your medication information. Make sure you know your documented allergies and where to find your current medication list.
Days 15–21: Practice infection-prevention habits consistently. Pay attention to hand hygiene and other routine measures recommended by credible public-health authorities.
Days 22–30: Share one reliable CDC or WHO antibiotic-awareness resource with someone else. At the end of day 30, write down one behavior you plan to continue.
Progress does not require perfection. Ellard’s approach is based on steady improvement.
“Staying humble and grateful for what I already have and how far I have come since graduating college” has helped her maintain perspective throughout her career, she said.
Take the Pledge and Share the Toolkit
Readers are invited to adopt the seven commitments that apply to them, use the free 30-day toolkit, and share the antibiotic-awareness checklist with family, friends, and colleagues.
For individuals, the pledge is not about making clinical decisions on their own. It is about asking informed questions, following professional guidance, using medication responsibly, and understanding why antibiotic effectiveness needs to be protected.
To read more, visit the website here.
About Linda Ellard
Linda Ellard is an APRN-CNS whose nursing career began in Tulsa in 2009. Her clinical background includes burn nursing, hospital medicine, infectious disease, chronic pain management, addiction treatment, and wound care. She advanced to APRN practice in 2017 and has practiced in infectious disease since 2019, working alongside multiple infectious disease attending providers. Her professional approach emphasizes patience, compassion, timely follow-up, collaboration, continued learning, and high standards of clinical practice.
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Website: lindaellardnurse.com
