[Trimethoprim as a monosubstance and cotrimoxazole in infections of the efferent urinary tract].

In a randomized single blind study the efficiency of Trimethoprim as a monosubstance used in the therapy of urinary tract infections was compared to that of Cotrimoxazole. There was a total of 40 patients available 20 of whom were given 2 X 200 mg Trimethoprim throughout 10 days whereas the other 20 patients were given 2 X 160 mg Trimethoprim + 800 mg Sulphamethoxazole in the same period. All patients were hospitalized during treatment. The urine was bacteriologically checked at the beginning of the treatment and after 7, 14 and 28 days respectively. The therapy was equally successful in both groups, both from the clinical and the bacteriological point of view (Trimethoprim 17, Cotrimoxazole 18); a statistically significant difference was not to be proved. In the Trimethoprim group there was one relapse, in the Cotrimoxazole group there were two. Undesirable side effects occurred in both groups with a larger number of them occurring in the Cotrimoxazole group. Cotrimoxazole and Trimethoprim proved equally efficient from a clinical point of view. The proportion of side effects is more favourable for Trimethoprim alone; the cost of therapy is almost 50% lower than that of Cotrimoxazole.