News & Updates

New drug applications approved by US FDA as of 01-15 January 2024 which includes New Molecular Entities (NMEs) and new biologics. It does not include Tentative Approvals. Supplemental approvals may have occurred since the original approval date.

With the emergence of new subtypes of respiratory nosocomial infection and multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs), better surveillance and infection prevention and control are necessary to address these healthcare challenges. In the MSD-sponsored scientific event entitled “Multidrug Resistant Infections: Updates on Diagnosis and Management” held on July 27, 2023, Dr Evelina Lagamayo, Clinical Pathologist and Microbiologist, Section Chief, Microbiology Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Santo Tomas Hospital; Dr Rontgene Solante, Chair, Adult Infectious Disease, Tropical Medicine, San Lazaro Hospital, and President of the Philippine College of Physicians; and Dr Carmenchu Villavicencio, Infection Control Chair of St. Luke’s Medicla Center Global City, as moderator discussed diagnostic tests for Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the role of ceftolozane/tazobactam (ZERBAXA) in the treatment nosocomial pneumonia.

A 5-day course of oral amoxicillin-clavulanate performs just as wells as a 10-day course in the treatment of febrile urinary tract infection (fUTI) in children, a study has shown.

Adding clarithromycin to standard of care appears to improve clinical response and reduce inflammation in patients with community-acquired pneumonia, as reported in the phase III ACCESS trial.