Plazomicin for the treatment of patients with complicated urinary tract infection

In June 2018, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved plazomicin, a novel neoglycoside, for the treatment of adults with complicated urinary tract infections who have limited or no alternative treatment options. This approval was based on substantial preclinical and clinical work, and marks an important advance in the treatment of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens. This manuscript reviews the in vivo and in vitro work that led to the approval of plazomicin and examines how the drug may be used in the years ahead to treat patients with aggressive and life-threatening infections.