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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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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."