03/03/2026
I recently treated a patient with a nearly 2 month old wound on his leg. He had been admitted to a private facility and discharged, but overwhelmed by advice from neighbors warning him that washing the wound might worsen it, he decided to leave it open without cleaning. Unable to follow up with his doctor due to financial difficulties, the wound became infected, and he developed a fever. He then visited a public hospital, where I saw him. I cleaned his wound, and luckily, it was healing well enough for me to discharge him. I advised him not to listen to his neighbors and to seek proper medical advice. I also suggested that there are private doctors who charge less or, if patient enough, visit a public hospital for affordable care.
“Sabi kasi nang kapitbahay namin”
Last week I saw a patient that was admitted with a leg wound and a fever that had been worsening for weeks. She had diabetes and had already tried multiple antibiotics at home. Her daughter brought a pouch of mixed tablets: leftovers from an old prescription, a few from a neighbor, and one bought from pharmacies that wrongfully dispense antibiotics without a need for prescriptions, because it has been the practice of her family for years.
“Para daw mabilis gumaling sabi kasi nang kapitbahay namin.”
Cultures eventually came back showing MRSA, resistant to almost everything, her wound was not getting better.
Her daughter asked, “Doc, meron pa po bang mas malakas antibiotic ang kailangan?”
I explained that the remaining options were effective, but they were medicines usually reserved for severe, resistant infections, and they came with a cost most families aren’t prepared for.
As to which the patient replied,
“Sana pala nagpa-check up na lang kami agad.”
No blaming. No drama. Just a reminder that Antibiotic resisrance is real and a reminder of how easily things can escalate when antibiotics are used without proper guidance.
