Treatment of acute uncomplicated urinary tract infections with single daily doses of cefuroxime axetil.

Cefuroxime axetil in a single daily dose of 250 mg for ten days was given to 75 women with symptoms of acute uncomplicated urinary tract infections. Fifty-nine women were found to have significant bacteriuria but one was excluded as urethral catheterization was required. The dose was taken at night with a milk drink. Ninety-five per cent of women had a clear urine during treatment. Compliance studies showed that antimicrobial activity was detectable in early morning urines up to 8-10 h after the dose. Post treatment, 93% of women were clear of their original infecting organism but five women had become reinfected with a different strain of Escherichia coli. At the six week follow up 98% of women were still clear although one further reinfection had occurred. The overall cure rate was 86%, including 11% reinfection. Adverse events developed in 17 (23%) of the 75 women with candida vaginitis (8) and diarrhoea (4) being most common. Cefuroxime axetil is a valuable therapy for the treatment of urinary tract infection particularly when due to beta-lactamase producing bacteria.