Comparison of cefixime and co-trimoxazole in acute uncomplicated urinary tract infection. A double-blind general practice study.

Five hundred and twenty-eight patients with presumptive acute uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) were randomly assigned to receive cefixime 400 mg once daily, cefixime 200 mg twice daily or co-trimoxazole 2 tablets twice a day for 10 days; 477 completed at least 5 days of therapy. Of the patients 342 (65%) had positive baseline urine cultures, yielding 353 pathogens. A microbiological response was determined for 280 pathogens (79%), eradication being observed in over 94% of isolates; 153 pathogens (43%) were sensitive to both cefixime and co-trimoxazole and eradication was observed in over 96% of cases. Clinical response correlated well with microbiological response. The incidence of diarrhoea and stool changes was higher (P less than 0.005) in the patients who received cefixime once daily than in the other groups. There was a significantly higher incidence of stool changes with cefixime twice daily than with co-trimoxazole (P less than 0.05), but these did not necessitate discontinuation of therapy. Nausea was commoner with co-trimoxazole (P less than 0.05). The majority of pathogens isolated were Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and staphylococci. Approximately 24% of E. coli were resistant in vitro to co-trimoxazole (P less than 0.005). Cefixime 200 mg twice daily is an effective and safe alternative to co-trimoxazole in the management of acute uncomplicated UTI.