CLINICAL EFFICACY OF PEFLOXACIN IN COMPLICATED URINARY-TRACT INFECTIONS, UNCOMPLICATED GONOCOCCAL URETHRITIS, PROSTATITIS AND EPIDIDYMITIS - AN OVERVIEW

This paper reviews the antibacterial in vitro activity of pefloxacin a gainst uropathogens associated with complicated and/or hospital-acquir ed urinary tract infections (UTIs) and presents data from published st udies investigating the therapy of complicated UTIs (including acute p yelonephritis), uncomplicated gonococcal urethritis, bacterial prostat itis, and epididymitis. Results from the published literature have dem onstrated that pefloxacin is a useful treatment alternative in complic ated UTIs with or without pyelonephritis, as single dose therapy in un complicated gonococcal urethritis in men, and in acute exacerbation of bacterial prostatitis and acute epididymitis. In a number of controll ed studies investigating the efficacy and safety of pefloxacin in comp licated UTI/pyelonephritis, results were similar to those with the com parator agents (ofloxacin, gentamicin or cefotaxime), although patient population sizes were not large enough to allow for the testing of eq uivalence according to accepted statistical methods. According to 2 do se-finding studies, it would appear desirable to investigate a once-da ily regimen more closely, using either pefloxacin 800 or 400mg, consid ering the advantages of improved patient compliance.