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One of the newest antibiotics to be introduced on the NHS was shown to be susceptible to resistance from bacteria during a study by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) which was published today.

Analysing data from 2016 to 2020, researchers found 6.3 per cent of bacteria tested “in routine surveillance” showed resistance to ceftazidime/avibactam, which is used to treat complicated intra-abdominal infections, urinary tract infections and pneumonia.

The drug was part of a Government trial in December 2020 to incentivise the development of new antibiotics but before the study started, researchers assessed the levels of ceftazidime/avibactam testing, resistance and usage in England.

They found “percentage resistance per bacterial species varied over time”, with 1.3 per cent E coli, 12.6 per cent Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 6.1 per cent of Klebsiella pneumoniae resistant to the drug between April 2019 and March 2020.

The UKHSA said “levels of resistance are still low” but cautioned the results were “an important reminder to ensure antibiotics are used appropriately to slow down the development of resistance”.

Ceftazidime/avibactam, which has been available on the NHS since 2017, was used by 69.5 per cent of NHS Trusts during the research. The UKHSA’s deputy director responsible for antimicrobial resistance Dr Colin Brown said the study was a reminder of “how important resistance surveillance is".

“Research like this means clinicians and prescribers can access the most relevant information available to prescribe the best antibiotics for their patients, while protecting the long-term effectiveness of antibiotics for future use,” he said.

“We aren’t going to be able to tackle antibiotic resistance solely by finding new drugs. While we continue to support innovation in developing new treatments, resistance will emerge and so it’s important that we all work together to keep antibiotics working.”