Every October, the spirit of Halloween inspires creativity and whimsy—from witches and zombies to superheroes and space aliens. But what if you’re working in infectious diseases, pharmacy, microbiology, or antimicrobial stewardship? Why not let your costume reflect your passion?
In this article, we offer a set of thematic, tongue-in-cheek ideas for costumes that let you showcase your commitment to antibiotic stewardship—while still having fun. Whether your costume references MRSA, resistance genes, or the post-antibiotic era, these ideas turn a holiday into an opportunity to engage, educate, and — let’s be honest — bring some nerdy flair to the festivities.
MRSA Man
Slip into a purple full-body lycra suit and cover yourself in clusters of purple balloons. Sure, the crowd might think you’re a bunch of grapes—but the ID folks will know you’re methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
The Post-Antibiotic Prophet
Turn a posterboard into a “walking antibiogram” by posting (de-identified!) pan-drug resistant susceptibility results. In bold letters, scrawl: Welcome to the Post-Antibiotic Era. Attach strings and wear it like a sandwich board—equal parts terrifying and educational.
Antibiotic Defender
Channel your inner superhero with a cape and tights, but wear a badge proclaiming yourself the Antibiotic Defender. Bonus points for a shield labeled “Stewardship.”
Stool Sample Technician
Put on a white lab coat, 3D print tiny stools (like the kind you sit on), and place them in specimen cups with lids. Hand out “stool samples” for laughs. Gross? Yes. Hilarious? Absolutely.
The Back-Alley Resistance Gene Salesman
Slip on a trench coat, and instead of black-market watches, the inside is lined with plasmids carrying antibiotic resistance genes. “Psst… want to share some resistance?”
Please borrow one of these ideas! Tag us on SM with pics @IDstewardship so we can share your creativity!
Article by Timothy P. Gauthier, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCIDP with use of ChatGPT
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