A COMPARISON BETWEEN SINGLE-DOSE FOSFOMYCIN TROMETAMOL (MONURIL(R)) AND A 5-DAY COURSE OF TRIMETHOPRIM IN THE TREATMENT OF UNCOMPLICATED LOWER URINARY-TRACT INFECTION IN WOMEN

This study is a comparison of the microbiological and clinical efficac y of single-dose fosfomycin trometamol therapy and a 5 day course of t rimethoprim in the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infection in female patients. Urine dip-slide samples were obtained from 547 fem ale patients aged 18-65 by 22 General Practitioners (GPs) participatin g in the study from 21 centres in the UK. All patients were diagnosed as having a urinary tract infection by their GP on the basis of histor y and clinical examination. Patients were randomised to receive either single dose fosfomycin trometamol or a 5 day course of trimethoprim i n a 2:1 ratio. Patients who had significant bacteriuria(greater than o r equal to 10(5) c.f.u /ml) at the first visit (300) were included in the microbiological analysis. The two commonest urinary pathogens isol ated were Escherichia coil and Staphylococcus saprophyticus. Trimethop rim resistance was more frequent amongst E. coli isolates whereas fosf omycin trometamol resistance was more common amongst S. saprophyticus isolates. Microbiological cure was demonstrated in 83.3% of the trimet hoprim treated group and 83% of the fosfomycin trometamol treated grou p. Persistence of the infecting bacteria was seen in 17% of each treat ment arm. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V./International Society of Chem otherapy. All rights reserved.