A comparative drug study of lower urinary tract infections in elderly patients.

The urinary antibacterial drugs cinoxacin (Cinobac) and nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin) were compared for efficacy and side effects in the treatment of uncomplicated lower urinary tract infections occurring in elderly patients admitted to a rehabilitation hospital. Twenty-five patients received cinoxacin and 27 received nitrofurantoin for an average of thirteen days' treatment. The antibacterial spectrum of cinoxacin was noted to be better than that of nitrofurantoin, but both drugs performed well in clearing the infections caused by susceptible organisms. There were no side effects from cinoxacin therapy, but 15 per cent of patients receiving the nitrofurantoin experienced anorexia and nausea, in some cases sufficiently severe to require early termination of therapy.