A silent crisis is unfolding in Malawi. A new study shows that nearly half of all urinary tract infections are resistant to first-line treatments, making once-treatable infections dangerous, especially for vulnerable groups.
Antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, occurs when germs no longer respond to the drugs designed to kill them. The World Health Organization warns that AMR threatens global health, food systems, and development, and could increase poverty and death rates around the world.
In Malawi, the impact of antimicrobial resistance on UTIs is especially severe for women and girls aged 15–45, who are disproportionately affected by UTIs. As AMR spreads, their access to effective, affordable treatments is declining — turning common infections into more serious conditions.