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‘Trojan horse’ antibiotic shows promise
"Our results support cefiderocol as a novel approach that might be used to overcome Gram-negative resistance." (Stock photo)
Drug works by tricking bacteria in allowing it to enter 

A new antibiotic that acts like the Trojan horse in Greek legend has shown promise in phase two trials, scientists have said.

Cefiderocol works by tricking bacteria in allowing it to enter. It was found to be as effective as the current standard-of-care antibiotic, in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by several multi-drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria.

Findings published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal suggest that patients treated with cefiderocol had a higher and more sustained level of pathogen eradication; and similar clinical outcomes to those treated with imipenem-cilastatin.

The study randomised 448 adults who had been hospitalised with a complicated UTI or uncomplicated pyelonephritis. Three hundred patients received three daily infusions of cefiderocol for seven to 10 days, while the remainder were given imipenem-cilastatin.

Seven days after treatment stopped, cefiderocol showed efficacy rates of 73 per cent and 55 per cent respectively for clinical and microbiological responses.

Lead author Dr Simon Portsmouth, from Shionogi Inc, said: "Cefiderocol was found to be both safe and tolerable in a population of older patients who were very ill with complex comorbid conditions and a wide range of multidrug-resistant pathogens. Our results support cefiderocol as a novel approach that might be used to overcome Gram-negative resistance.

"Ongoing clinical trials of pneumonia, including hospital-acquired pneumonia and ventilator-associated pneumonia, and a study in patients with carbapenem-resistant infections, will provide additional important information about cefiderocol."

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.