Meet Mainala Silondwa: A filmmaker’s harrowing fight against a drug-resistant infection

2026-11-12

Antibiotic resistance is often framed as a looming, abstract global crisis, yet its true toll is deeply human and immediate. In this candid interview, filmmaker and storyteller Mainala Silondwa recounts her unexpected battle with a multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas infection following routine ankle surgery.

From the shock of finding that only two antibiotics could treat her condition to enduring six grueling weeks of daily intramuscular injections, Mainala lays bare the physical exhaustion, financial drain, and emotional vulnerability that accompany the failure of modern medicines.

Her journey serves as both an urgent wake-up call to listen to our bodies and a poignant reminder of why access to effective treatments and robust social support is essential for survival.

How did you find out about the multidrug-resistant infection?

– I experienced persistent pain and swelling in my ankle, which I initially dismissed. When I sought medical care, doctors discovered a non-cancerous bone cyst that required surgery and a bone graft.

– Laboratory tests following the procedure revealed a multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas infection, meaning that several antibiotics could no longer treat the bacteria effectively.

What were your thoughts about the struggle to find medicine?

– I faced the unsettling reality that only two antibiotics were effective against the infection, and one was unavailable in Zambia. The remaining medicine was difficult and costly to find, and I needed help to obtain it while recovering from surgery.

– Her experience highlighted the uncertainty, emotional strain and financial pressures patients can face, as well as how access to treatment and support, including paid sick leave, can make a difference.

What treatment regimen was required to clear the infection, and what physical toll did it take?

– The treatment required daily injections administered over six weeks. Because intravenous lines collapsed quickly, the medication had to be administered via intramuscular jabs directly into the muscle.

– Navigating daily clinic visits on crutches while unable to bear weight on the operated foot created immense physical exhaustion and pain. When attending the main hospital became unsustainable, arrangement was made to receive the daily injections at an outpatient clinic closer to home.

What was the financial burden of managing this drug-resistant infection?

– The financial impact was substantial, requiring out-of-pocket payments for high-cost antibiotic vials, disposable syringes, and administrative fees for each injection. In total, the treatment required dozens of doses.

– Although formal employment provided paid sick leave and helped absorb the medical bills, the ordeal underlined how economically devastating antimicrobial resistance is for individuals without steady work, comprehensive insurance, or financial safety nets.

How did this experience reshape your emotional outlook and understanding of health?

– Experiencing AMR firsthand shifted it from an abstract, distant scientific concept into a visceral, life-threatening reality. It brought deep feelings of vulnerability, anxiety, and eventual gratitude.

– Going through the struggle highlighted the importance of taking persistent bodily pain seriously rather than ignoring early warning signs, while exposing how fragile modern medicine becomes when frontline antibiotics fail.