Multidrug resistant infections are on the increase and include common community-acquired infections such as typhoid, malaria and tuberculosis. Multidrug resistant typhoid fever assumed epidemic proportions in the country some years ago, initially catching physicians unawares. As the epidemic worsened, many new antibiotics were marketed, and physicians chose drugs on the basis of whim more than scientific validity or consensus. Most patients recovered but over a prolonged time.It was clear that the epidemiology of typhoid fever had changed. Many lessons have been learnt through this epidemic and need due consideration.