In March 2025, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new antibiotic for UTIs: gepotidacin, sold under the brand name Blujepa. This is the first new antibiotic class in nearly 30 years!

Recurrent UTIs are an increasing concern as antibiotic resistance renders many previously effective treatments useless, a pattern clearly outlined in this review of uropathogens and their resistance trends.

The problem with antibiotic resistance is bigger than just UTIs. The World Health Organization (WHO) has labeled antibiotic resistance as one of the three greatest threats to global health. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) calls antimicrobial resistance a serious threat, and The Lancet describes it as a “global health emergency.”

None of this is a great shock to providers who care for residents with recurring UTIs. Sadly, many UTIs take several rounds of different antibiotic courses to resolve, some never resolve, and others lead to sepsis and sometimes death. I personally was surprised that it took 30 years to identify a new antibiotic for UTIs that may work on MDROs—but I’m excited that there may be hope for our residents!

If you have residents with recurring UTIs, talk to your medical director, pharmacy, and laboratory representatives. There may be an opportunity to help eliminate some of these nasty organisms after all.

Stay well and stay informed!