The FDA has approved a new antibiotic called Zerbaxa. It is a combination of two medicines that work together to kill certain bacteria. Zerbaxa is used to treat complicated infections in the abdomen (like appendicitis), complicated urinary tract infections (including kidney infections), and pneumonia that develops in the hospital or while on a breathing machine. For abdominal infections, it is given with another antibiotic called metronidazole.
Zerbaxa is approved for adults and children from birth to less than 18 years old for abdominal and urinary infections. For hospital-acquired pneumonia, it is only for adults 18 and older. The medicine is given through a vein (IV) every 8 hours for one hour. The dose depends on the type of infection and how well the kidneys work.
This approval is important because it gives doctors a new tool to fight serious bacterial infections that may not respond to older antibiotics. However, Zerbaxa is not for mild infections like sinusitis or bronchitis. It should be used only when bacteria are likely to be sensitive to it, to help prevent antibiotic resistance.
If you or your child has a serious infection, talk to your doctor about whether Zerbaxa might be an option. Your doctor will decide the best treatment based on the type of infection, your health, and lab results.