New Antibiotic Offers Hope Against Drug-Resistant UTIs

Researchers have developed a new antibiotic, plazomicin, to combat life-threatening, drug-resistant urinary tract infections (UTIs). Approved by the U.S. FDA, plazomicin targets complicated UTIs, particularly those caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) — dubbed "nightmare bacteria" by the CDC. Resistance to commonly used antibiotics like trimethoprim is rising, with about one-third of UTI samples in the UK showing resistance. Developed by Achaogen with support from the Wellcome Trust, plazomicin is administered once daily and offers a treatment option for patients with no alternatives. Although not a new class of antibiotic, it is engineered to combat resistant Gram-negative bacteria, identified by the WHO as top-priority superbugs. Alarmingly, no new class of antibiotic for Gram-negative bacteria has been discovered since 1962. Dr. Tim Jinks from Wellcome emphasizes that plazomicin is a vital last-resort treatment and a step forward in the fight against superbugs. He notes that developing such drugs is time-consuming, costly, and essential to reinforcing the fragile antibiotic pipeline. The drug’s approval in Europe is pending review by the European Medicines Agency. The case highlights the importance of global efforts and funding in addressing the urgent threat of antimicrobial resistance.

Gulland, A. (2018, July 2). New drug targets ‘nightmare bacteria’ found in UTIs. The Telegraph. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/new-drug-targets-nightmare-bacteria-found-utis/