A new antibiotic is on the horizon, a breakthrough for those who suffer from chronic Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) or bladder infections.
More than 50% of South African women will suffer from at least one UTI in their lifetime, and in some cases, women have recurring instances. In fact, 20 – 40% of women will have recurring episodes.
Women going through menopause or postmenopause experience UTIs more as a result of decreased estrogen at that phase of their life.
The drug, Gepotidacin, is particularly useful for those who currently suffer from antibiotic-resistant UTIs.
A 2021 report by the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that not enough new antibiotics are being developed that would aid in the case of antibiotic resistance.
People may become antibiotic resistant when they have recurring instances of UTIs and use antibiotics repeatedly. In this case, antibiotics may become less effective as the strains of bacteria mutate and develop resistance mechanisms in order to survive.
The drug will be the first of its kind in more than 20 years, as its purpose will be to prevent or slow down the replication of bacterial DNA.
At this stage, data on the drug simply needs to be published in a medical journal and then reviewed by the FDA (food and drug administration).
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3 Tips for menopausal and postmenopausal women
- Use topical estrogen as it will help to balance your vaginal pH.
- If you have digestive issues like diarrhoea or constipation, treat it. Bowel issues could wreak havoc on your hormones, especially estrogen.
- Use supplements that will prevent bacterial adherence like cranberry and D-mannose.
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Feature image: Unsplash
