Norfloxacin treatment in complicated urinary tract infection.

Twenty-four patients with complicated urinary tract infections were treated with norfloxacin for three months. Group I (n = 12), received 400 mg b.i.d. during three months and Group II (n = 12) received 400 mg b.i.d. during one month, followed by 400 mg as a single dose for two months. Most of the infections (67%), were due to Pseudomonas spp. A bacteriological cure rate of 75% (9/12) and 92% (11/12) in groups I and II, respectively, was achieved after three months therapy. One month after cessation of therapy patients were free of their initial infection in 75% (9/12) and 83% (10/12), respectively. Clinical cure was achieved in 75% of the patients in both groups. This remained the case in group I after cessation of treatment. In group II, 50% remained free of symptoms one month post-therapy. Both clinical and laboratory adverse reactions were minor and none of the patients discontinued treatment due to side effects. Norfloxacin therapy was effective in the long term treatment of chronic recurrent infections in patients with severe urological conditions. Prevention of relapse or reinfection from the primary endogenous faecal reservoirs (Enterobacteriaceae), was probably due to the high effect of norfloxacin against these organisms. The relatively good effect on pseudomonas infection in this group of patients, was probably due to a high concentration of norfloxacin in the urine.