NIH Study Finds U.S. Hospitals Underutilizing Next-Generation Antibiotics
A recent study conducted by scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has uncovered a concerning trend in U.S. hospitals – clinicians are not taking full advantage of next-generation antibiotics to combat increasingly resistant infections. Despite the FDA’s approval of seven newer antibiotics, doctors often continue to rely on older, less effective, and more toxic medications to treat antibiotic-resistant infections.
The study, which was conducted at the NIH’s Clinical Center, aimed to understand the factors influencing doctors’ preferences for older antibiotics over newer, more advanced options. One major finding was the significant cost difference between the two types of medications, with newer antibiotics costing approximately six times more than their older counterparts. This pricing gap could be a key factor in disincentivizing doctors from prescribing the newer, more effective drugs.
According to the study, next-generation antibiotics are more likely to be prescribed in hospitals where lab results indicate that the medications will be effective against a patient’s specific infection. However, the researchers stress the importance of overcoming barriers to the development and use of these advanced antibiotics, especially as gram-negative bacteria continue to become increasingly resistant to most available treatments.
Lead researcher Dr. Sameer S. Kadri emphasized the importance of improving the use of next-generation antibiotics in U.S. hospitals to combat this growing public health threat. The study, funded by the FDA and the NIH Intramural Research Program, was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine on April 19, 2024.
The NIH’s Clinical Center, often referred to as America’s research hospital, is dedicated to conducting clinical research aimed at improving the nation’s overall health. As the nation’s leading medical research agency, the NIH continues to investigate the causes, treatments, and potential cures for a wide range of common and rare diseases. With the findings from this latest study, researchers hope to inform public health policies and economic strategies that will encourage the appropriate use of next-generation antibiotics in hospitals across the country.
