I’ve been conscious that my blog’s been gathering dust lately. Truth be told, I brought a lot home from Ukraine and Poland — not just souvenirs and stories, but images that still sit heavy in my mind. Thought-provoking moments from Auschwitz. Notes on grassroots projects and NGOs doing extraordinary work. And, unexpectedly, a multidrug-resistant bacterial infection.
Yes, really.
The Hidden Epidemic: MDR Infections in Ukraine
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections are a growing crisis in Ukraine, exacerbated by the war. The combination of damaged healthcare infrastructure, inappropriate antibiotic use, and overcrowded displacement camps has created a perfect storm for resistance to thrive.
Here’s what I learned — and lived:
Key Concerns
• MDR bacteria(Multi drug Resistant Bacteria) : These infections are resistant to multiple antibiotics, making them extremely difficult to treat.
• Widespread resistance: Strains like Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii have developed resistance to nearly all available treatments.
• High prevalence in soldiers: War-wounded individuals are especially vulnerable, with the NDM-1 gene found in some wound infections.
• Healthcare impact: Damaged hospitals, staff shortages, and limited supplies mean infection control is often compromised.
• Severe consequences: Infections can escalate to sepsis, and in some cases, amputation is the only viable option.
Contributing Factors
• Disrupted healthcare: War has crippled access to care and infection control.
• Antibiotic misuse: Overuse and incorrect use of antibiotics fuel resistance. Its very easy to buy antibiotics over the counter in Ukraine leading to over and or inappropriate use.
• Environmental contamination: Overcrowding and poor sanitation in camps, on public transport and in some public refreshment areas can accelerate spread.
• Mass displacement combined with russias targeting of hospitals and health facilities means public health systems are struggling to keep up with troop/ population movements and their changing medical need.
Why This Matters
This isn’t just a medical issue — it’s a humanitarian one. MDR infections are a silent, slow-moving crisis that affects civilians, soldiers, aid workers, and anyone caught in the crossfire of conflict. I didn’t expect to become part of that statistic, but here we are.
I’ll be sharing more soon — about the NGOs we visited, the people we met, and the resilience we witnessed. But for now, this is a reminder: some of the most dangerous things we bring home aren’t visible at all. I thought I was prepared for all eventualities and could not understand why I struggled physically so much but at least I am here writing my blog again.
Liz In Ukraine 
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