Uncomplicated E coli urinary tract infection in college women: a retrospective study of E coli sensitivities to commonly prescribed antibiotics.

To determine the sensitivity of Escherichia coli organisms to various antibiotics, the authors conducted a 4-month retrospective chart study of 95 patients with urinary tract infection (UTI). They found great variation in sensitivity of E coli to the different antibiotics and concluded that amoxicillin and the cephalosporins are no longer effective first-line UTI treatments. Of the antibiotics evaluated, ciprofloxacin was the best choice, but both nitrofurantoin and TMP/SMX are less expensive and are effective for about 90% of uncomplicated UTIs.