Mo Carrier has been battling recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) since her early 20s, suffering from at least three UTIs per year and two infections within just six months. In an interview with Yahoo Life, she shared her distressing experience: I ended up being put on antibiotics to be used before every sexual act, she recalls. After some time, Carrier switched to a new doctor who expressed concerns about the potential for antibiotic resistance, a critical issue that occurs when bacteria evolve to become immune to the effects of medications designed to kill them.

I had used antibiotics probably three times a week for about a year at that point, Carrier explains, her voice tinged with anxiety. She was terrified that one day those antibiotics would no longer work for her. UTIs were one of the worst things Ive been through, she added, reflecting the intense pain and discomfort that accompanies these infections.

Another patient, Liz S., faces a similar struggle with recurrent UTIs, but her case is complicated further by an allergy to sulfa-based antibiotics, limiting her treatment options. Liz expressed her concerns to Yahoo Life, stating, Antibiotic resistance is definitely a concern, given that I can't take one of the three standard medications. This reality highlights the increasing complexity of treating UTIs in patients with specific medical needs.

On a brighter note, in March 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a groundbreaking new medication gepotidacin, marketed under the brand name Blujepa. This medication represents a significant advancement as it is the first antibiotic class introduced in nearly three decades designed specifically to treat UTIs. This development comes as welcome news to the millions of women who will experience at least one UTI in their lifetime, and the 30-44% of women who face recurrent infections within months.

While drugs like Pivya and Orlynvah were approved only the previous year to address UTIs, they belong to existing antibiotic classes. In contrast, Blujepa is classified as a triazaacenaphthylene antibiotic, marking a pivotal shift in the treatment landscape.

Why is there such a pressing need for new medications? The rise in recurrent UTIs has been exacerbated by the troubling issue of antibiotic resistance. Research indicates that a staggering 92% of bacteria responsible for UTIs show resistance to at least one antibiotic, with nearly 80% resistant to at least two antibiotics, raising significant concerns within the medical community.

However, antibiotic resistance is not confined solely to UTIs. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified antibiotic resistance as one of the top three global health threats. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) echoes this sentiment, labeling it a serious and urgent issue, with research categorizing antibiotic resistance as a global health emergency.

Dr. Robert Bonomo, an antibiotic resistance researcher and professor at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, explained to Yahoo Life that antibiotic-resistant UTIs are the canary in the coal mine for broader antibiotic resistance. He described a concerning cycle where doctors frequently prescribe various antibiotics over time to combat recurrent infections, leading to enhanced risk of bacteria adapting and becoming resistant to treatment.

Daniel Park, a senior research scientist at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, highlighted the implications of this resistance: Since UTIs often require multiple rounds of antibiotics, they can drive resistance further, making it more likely that other infections like pneumonia or bloodstream infections will also become harder to treat.

The ramifications of antibiotic resistance can be dire, leading to infections that might be untreatable. As Dr. Milner Staub, an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, emphasized, these potentially untreatable infections can even result in fatalities. Predictive models suggest that over the next 25 years, more than 39 million people worldwide could succumb to antibiotic-resistant infections, according to a 2024 study published in The Lancet.

Dr. Kelly Dooley, who directs the Division of Infectious Disease at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, stated, Antibiotic resistance is a major threat to human health. Alarmingly, it is predicted that antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) pathogens will claim more lives than cancer by 2050. AMR affects all branches of medicine, including critical areas such as oncology, surgical procedures, and organ transplants. Adding urgency to the situation, Dr. Martin J. Blaser, who heads the Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine at Rutgers University, warned that doctors are running out of effective antibiotics to treat serious infections.

The challenge of antibiotic resistance has expanded beyond UTIs to include other infections, such as antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea. Dr. Blaser noted, We have taken for granted that effective antibiotics will be there when needed, as they have been for the past 80 years. But resistance is increasing faster than we can develop new antibiotics.

So what can individuals do to combat this rising threat on a personal level? Although the situation surrounding antibiotic resistance is indeed alarming, there are proactive steps that people can take to mitigate the risks:

  • Consult your doctor regarding the necessity of antibiotics: With many infections being mild, it is often the case that waiting can allow the body to heal itself without antibiotics. Engaging in dialogue with your healthcare provider about this is crucial, as some infections will need specific antibiotics.
  • Only take antibiotics as prescribed: It is vital to await culture results to ensure that the correct antibiotic is administered for your particular infection.
  • Complete the entire course of antibiotics: Even if symptoms improve, it is important to finish the prescribed course to prevent lingering bacteria from developing resistance.
  • Choose antibiotic-free meat and dairy when possible: Purchasing products from animals raised without antibiotics can help reduce the overuse of these medications in agriculture, which in turn lessens antimicrobial resistance, particularly in zoonotic infections that can transfer from animals to humans.

Dr. Bonomo underscored the importance of collaboration between healthcare providers and patients in the fight against antibiotic resistance. We can cut down on the use of antibiotics significantly, and we shouldn't prescribe them for conditions like the common cold, he advised. He acknowledged the pressures doctors face in their practices, noting that patients often expect prescriptions to alleviate their symptoms, even when simple remedies like rest and hydration might suffice. We need to do better, he concluded, emphasizing the shared responsibility in tackling this pressing health crisis.