Complicated urinary tract infection (UTI) is a debilitating condition often resulting in patient hospitalization and consequent high health-care costs. β-lactam antibiotics such as cephalosporins are often used to treat complicated UTI, but a widespread resistance to antibiotics hampers the eradication of these infections.

The phase III, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy trial CERTAIN-1 was conducted to assess safety and efficacy of a combination treatment with cefepime plus taniborbactam (a cephalosporin and a β-lactamase inhibitor, respectively) compared with the widespread used antibiotic meropenem in hospitalized patients with complicated UTI.