ECDC patient story: Michelle
Michelle, is 23 years old and in her spare time she enjoys gaming, reading, and writing poetry. Besides family, friends and loving partner, her two cats and a hamster fill her days with comfort and companionship.
Behind this normal life, however, Michelle, who studied medical biology, lives with several chronic health conditions Fabry disease, von Willebrand’s disease, and endometriosis. Her studies gave her a deep understanding of how these conditions affect her body but also made her acutely aware of her vulnerability to infections. “I’ve always known that I have to be careful, so I try to stay alert to any changes,” she explains.
One of the most frightening moments came three years ago when Michelle developed severe pneumonia. ‘It started with fatigue and coughing, and then one day I began coughing up blood,’ she recalls. ‘It felt like I was drowning in my own lungs.’
She was taken to the emergency room, struggling to breathe. Doctors ran a series of microbiology tests, including sputum cultures, to determine the pathogen causing the infection. The results revealed Streptococcus pneumoniae as the culprit, a bacterium resistant to multiple antibiotics.
“The first antibiotics didn’t work,” Michelle remembers. “I felt weaker each day, and the doctors were running out of options. It took several tests before they found one that did, only then I started to recover.”
The treatment involved intravenous antibiotics, followed by oral medication, and later a last-resort antibiotic when the infection continued to resist standard therapy.
“When you realise that the usual antibiotics no longer work, it’s terrifying,” she says. “Time becomes critical, and hope depends on finding something that still works.”
The illness kept her at bed for nearly three months which forced her to interrupt her studies.
“I was 20 years old but too weak to move or study. I had to interrupt my education and repeat the academic year,” Michelle shares. “It was an incredibly isolating experience. While my friends were finishing their courses, I was struggling just to breathe normally again.”
Even after recovering from pneumonia, her challenges didn’t end. Michelle has since faced kidney infections that were also difficult to treat due to antibiotic resistance. Each time, there’s uncertainty about whether available treatments will still be effective.
‘The constant fear is that one day, there might be nothing left that works,’ she admits. ‘For people like me, antibiotic resistance isn’t just a warning, it’s a reality. One that can quickly become life-threatening.’
Her experience is a stark reminder of the risks posed by resistant bacteria and incorrect use of antibiotics. ‘Even though I never misused antibiotics, I live with the consequences of resistance,’ Michelle says. ‘That’s why I always tell others to take them only when prescribed and to finish the full course, exactly as instructed by their doctor.’
Her message to others is clear:
‘If you feel your treatment isn’t helping, don’t wait. Contact your doctor as soon as possible. Getting the right care early can make all the difference.’