Antibiotics are one of our most powerful tools for fighting life-threatening infections and their discovery has transformed human and animal health. However, antibiotic resistance (the ability of germs to defeat the drugs designed to kill them) is one of the greatest global public health challenges of our time.
Bacteria and fungi do not have to be resistant to every antibiotic to be dangerous. Resistance to even one antibiotic can mean serious problems. Antibiotic-resistant infections that require the use of second and third-line treatments harm patients and prolong care and recovery, sometimes for months. Healthcare providers may need to treat these infections with antibiotics that have serious side effects, such as organ failure.
The rise of antimicrobial resistance in uropathogens has complicated the management of urinary tract infections (UTIs), particularly in patients who are afflicted by recurrent episodes of UTIs.
