Combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
After a caesarian section, I acquired a multidrug-resistant wound infection that required antibiotics for 6 straight weeks, with several readmissions to the hospital. Then I needed daily home healthcare and treatment from an advanced wound center for 15 weeks. The costs to my family, and my insurance company, were substantial, and took a toll on me both financially and emotionally. I think I look back more at just what I missed. My entire maternity leave was taken up with this infection. I didn’t get to spend the bonding time I wanted to spend with my infant. It’s important to understand that these resistant bacteria are out there, so we need to be responsible consumers of antibiotics. As mothers, we need to know that the majority of infections are viral, so asking your pediatrician for an antibiotic may be inappropriate. We need to understand that we have to take action collectively, both as healthcare professionals and consumers, to make sure that the resistance problem doesn’t get worse. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.