Nitrofurantoin Effective for Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections

Last Updated: 2002-10-16 12:17:05 -0400 (Reuters Health)

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The results of a study published in the September issue of the British Journal of General Practice suggest that treatment with nitrofurantoin is significantly more effective than placebo in achieving bacteriological cure and symptomatic relief in women with uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI).

In a randomized, placebo-controlled study, Dr. Thierry Christiaens and colleagues from the University of Belgium, Ghent, assessed the symptomatic and bacteriological short-term effect of treatment with nitrofurantoin versus placebo for UTI in adult non-pregnant women. The patients were randomized to receive 100 mg nitrofurantoin or placebo four times a day for 3 days.

Fifty-six women (72%) had bacteriologically proven bacteriuria at baseline. Of these, 29 received nitrofurantoin and 27 received placebo. The bacteriological cure after 3 days and 7 days was significantly greater in the nitrofurantoin group than in the placebo group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.05, respectively).

Symptomatic improvement and cure after 3 days occurred in 27 of 35 women in the nitrofurantoin group and in 19 of the 35 women in the placebo group (p = 0.08), the investigators report. "After 7 days, combined improvement and cure was observed in 30/34 and 17/33, respectively (p = 0.003)," they report.

"Placebo-controlled trials are needed, to inform patients of the advantageous nature of the treatment," Dr. Christiaens and colleagues write. The investigators believe that this is the first such trial to ascertain the value of nitrofurantoin for uncomplicated acute UTIs in clinical practice.

Br J Gen Pract 2002;5:729-734.

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