Cinoxacin in the treatment of acute urinary tract infections: an evaluation of efficacy and a comparison of dosage schedules.

Fifty-one women with acute urinary tract infections have been treated with cinoxacin, a new synthetic compound that is similar chemically and in antimicrobial activity to nalidixic acid. Urine cultures were made before treatment was started, midway through the 7 to 10-day course of therapy, 1 week after therapy and 4 to 6 weeks after therapy, if possible. Pre-treatment , mid-therapy and post-therapy evaluations of renal and liver function along with a complete blood count were done. All patients were believed to have lower urinary tract infections. Urine cultures in 48 of the 51 patients (94 per cent) became sterile during therapy and 47 patients (92 per cent) maintained sterile urine 1 week after therapy. Of those patients undergoing followup cultures 4 to 6 weeks after therapy 72 per cent had sterile urine. No significant hematological, renal, hepatic or gastroenterologic toxicity was noted. Cinoxacin seems to be a safe and useful drug in the treatment of urinary tract infections caused by the common gram-negative organisms and there does not seem to be any difference in efficacy between the dosage schedules tested.