The FDA has recently approved two new oral antibiotics, zoliflodacin and gepotidacin, for the treatment of gonorrhea, marking the first new treatments in decades. These approvals come amid rising cases of gonorrhea and increasing antibiotic resistance to existing treatments. Both medications offer the advantage of oral administration, potentially improving patient access and convenience compared to the current injectable standard of care. Clinical trials demonstrated comparable efficacy and safety profiles for the new drugs.
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In South Korea, infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are experiencing a record-breaking surge, with the number of cases in 2025 already surpassing the total from the previous year. Data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) indicates a consistent upward trend since 2018, with the elderly population disproportionately affected, particularly those in long-term care facilities. This rise underscores the challenges posed by antibiotic resistance, as healthcare settings serve as critical points of CRE transmission, necessitating interventions like the upcoming Third National Antimicrobial Resistance Management Plan for 2026-2030, which addresses antibiotic usage and infection control. South Korea’s high antibiotic consumption rate among OECD nations further emphasizes the urgency of these efforts.
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Between 2019 and 2023, infection rates from drug-resistant “nightmare bacteria” increased by nearly 70% across 29 states, a new CDC report reveals. The rise was primarily driven by bacteria containing the NDM gene, with cases jumping more than fivefold in recent years, posing a grave danger. These infections, once linked to overseas medical care, now threaten to spread within communities, potentially transforming routine infections into chronic problems. The increase is likely related to the surge in antibiotic use during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the current data likely underestimates the true scope of the issue due to incomplete testing and reporting in many states.
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John Q. Hosedrinker