Professional paper
Pilot research on the efficacy and tolerability of Cefalexin in the treatment of urinary tract infections
Višnja Škerk
; Klinika za infektivne bolesti "Dr. Fran Mihaljević"
Jerko Jakšić
; Pliva Hrvatska d.o.o.
Adela Kolumbić-Lakoš
; Pliva Hrvatska d.o.o.
Mirjana Matrapazovski
; Pliva Hrvatska d.o.o.
Velena Radošević
; Klinika za ženske bolesti i porode, KBC Zagreb
Abstract
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are the most common reason for justified prescription of antimicrobial drugs. The aim of this prospective research was to investigate clinical efficacy and tolerability of cefalexin in the treatment of symptomatic uncomplicated UTI. In a six month period, in 50 general practitioners’offices throughout Croatia as well as in the Outpatient Department for Urinary Tract Infections at the University Hospital for Infectious Diseases »Dr. Fran Mihaljevic« in Zagreb, cefalexin 2×1 g p.o. was used for 8 days to treat 1000 episodes of symptomatic uncomplicated UTIs in 920 women older than 18 years. Clinical efficacy and tolerability of the drug were rated 5–9 days after completion of treatment. Out of the total of 1000 treated UTI episodes, 894 accounted for acute uncomplicated cystitis (AUC), 26 for acute uncomplicated pyelonephritis (AUP), 80 recurrent UTIs of which 61 episodes of recurrent AUC and 19 episodes of recurrent AUP. Clinical cure was recorded in 920 (92 %) of UTI episodes. Out of 80 uncured episodes, in 53 cefalexin therapy was terminated within the first 72 hours of treatment, in 12 episodes due to an isolated enterococcus, and in 41 due to clinical failure. In 27 episodes the uncured outcome was recorded during regular follow-up visit. There were no treatment side effects recorded. Urine culture was analysed in 380 episodes before the initiation of therapy. Isolated pathogens were E. coli in 315, P. mirabilis in 10 and Enterococcus in 12 episodes of UTI. This research has shown that cefalexin in symptomatic uncomplicated UTIs is an efficacious, well tolerated and pharmacoeconomically acceptable therapy and that it deserves its place in the empirical antimicrobial therapy of AUC.
Keywords
Urinary tract infections; treatment; cefalexin
Hrčak ID:
23809
URI
Publication date:
11.12.2007.
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