Fosfomycin tromethamineProduct ingredient for Fosfomycin

Fosfomycin was discovered in 1969 by scientists at the Spanish Penicillin and Antibiotics Company and is produced by Streptomyces fradiae.^1,5 It may also be produced synthetically and is commercially available as the disodium salt for intravenous administration and as the calcium or trometamol salt for oral administration.⁵ In terms of chemical structure, fosfomycin is a phosphoenolpyruvate analog and contains a phosphonic group and an epoxide ring.⁵

Due to its ease of administration as a single 3-gram oral dose and desirable safety profile, fosfomycin has largely become a first-line therapeutic option for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in females.⁸ Despite being FDA approved only for urinary tract infections, fosfomycin actually has a broad spectrum of activity and is active against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.⁵ As such there is great interest in exploring the usefulness of fosfomycin for indications beyond the treatment of UTIs.^6,7