EFFICACY AND TOLERANCE OF 5 DAYS COURSE O F CIPROFLOXACIN IN THE TREATMENT OF URINARY-TRACT INFECTION IN WOMEN

Background: There is no consensus about the ideal antimicrobial agent and duration of treatment for urinary tract infection in women. Aim: T o assess the efficacy of a five days course of ciprofloxacin for the t reatment of urinary tract infection in women. Patients and methods: Wo men with urinary tract infection were treated with ciprofloxacin (Bayc ip(R), Bayer) 250 mg bid during 5 days. Patients were evaluated three to four days after treatment start, two to seven days and one month af ter treatment end. Results: Of 101 eligible women, 96 aged 18 to 65 ye ars old, coming from three major Chilean cities, participated in the s tudy and 80 completed the follow up period. There was a 95% clinical s uccess, 2.5% partial improvement and 2.5% treatment failure. The causa l microorganism was erradicated in 90% of cases, in 1.2% treatment fai led and in 8.7% a re-infection occurred. Adverse effects attributable to the drug were observed in 12 patients (headache in 3, gastrointesti nal disturbances in 8, somnolence in 1 and irritability in 1). Conclus ions: Ciprofloxacin is an useful antimicrobial for the treatment of lo wer urinary tract infection in women.