THURSDAY, June 16, 2005 (HealthDay News) -- Hospitals have a new weapon in their fight to quash stubborn bacterial germs that have become resistant to today's antibiotics.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved Wyeth Pharmaceuticals' Tygacil (tigecycline), derived from the old tetracycline family of antibacterial medicines.
Tygacil was approved for treating certain abdominal and skin infections, though it can fight a range of bacterial ills, Wyeth said. New medicines are needed as bacteria evolve and become resistant to modern drugs. Staph infections often contracted in hospitals are a prime example.
Side effects of Tygacil include nausea and vomiting. The drug shouldn't be used by pregnant women and should be taken with caution by people allergic to tetracyclines, the company said.
To learn more about Tygacil, visit Wyeth's Web site.
