Published on
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this month approved tebipenem pivoxil for adults with complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs), including pyelonephritis, in patients who have limited or no alternative oral treatment options. Marketed as Utebzi, it is one of the more significant antibiotic approvals in recent years because it is the first oral carbapenem antibiotic available in the United States, according to manufacturer GSK. Until now, carbapenems (eg, ertapenem, meropenem, and imipenem) have generally required intravenous administration. FDA approval was based in part on a phase 3 trial with 1,690 hospitalized adults with cUTI or pyelonephritis. Oral tebipenem demonstrated noninferiority to IV imipenem-cilastatin, with overall success rates of 58.5% vs 60.2%, respectively.
UTI evaluation: Most urgent care patients presenting with suspected pyelonephritis or complicated infections will still require emergency department or specialist evaluation. However, the new oral drug may appear on a patient’s list of current prescriptions, which would indicate to an urgent care clinician that the patient is being treated for cUTI. Oral tebipenem is typically prescribed for 7–10 days. Prescribing information is available on the tebipenem product website.
Read More
- Conservative Antibiotic Duration May Work Well For Kids’ Uncomplicated UTIs
- UTI Triage Guides Address Virtual Presentations