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Prophylaxis for Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections: Nitrofurantoin, Not Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole or Cranberry Juice

Prophylaxis for Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections: Nitrofurantoin, Not... I read with interest the article by Beerepoot et al1 on urinary tract infection (UTI) prophylaxis, which raises important points that merit comment. From a resistance perspective, the article re-emphasizes that trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) is a “high resistance potential” antibiotic that predisposes to resistance among uropathogens. Clinicians should be reminded that resistance is not related to antibiotic volume, duration, or class per se, but rather is associated with individual agents from all antibiotic classes.2 Nitrofurantoin does not predispose to uropathogen resistance for prophylaxis and therapy of short or long duration.3 Another point deserving re-emphasis is that antibiotics with a high resistance potential not only predispose to increased resistance during treatment but such resistant uropathogens may persist in fecal flora for up to 3 months following therapy. Clinicians should take great care in selecting an appropriate antibiotic with a low resistance potential, both to minimize the resistance potential and to prevent prolonged carriage of resistant uropathogens in the fecal flora.2 The study was intended to determine if cranberry juice had antibacterial effects. However, the most important take home message is to avoid TMP-SMX for prophylaxis or therapy of recurrent UTIs.1 Instead, use nitrofurantoin, which is effective against most common uropathogens but does not predispose to resistance. Nitrofurantoin is effective against common uropathogens except Proteus species and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Nitrofurantoin inhibits bacterial growth at 3 different loci in the Kreb's cycle of susceptible uropathogens.3 Nitrofurantoin, rather than TMP-SMX, is ideal for prophylaxis of recurrent lower UTIs and acute complicated cystitis in female patients.4 Another concern in the study is timing and duration of prophylaxis for recurrent UTIs. Excluding relapsing UTIs, reinfecting recurrent UTIs are best treated episodically with a “low resistance potential” antibiotic, eg, nitrofurantoin. It is preferable to treat a few episodes of cystitis per year as needed rather than to use prolonged prophylaxis with TMP-SMX with its associated costs and risks of adverse effects, eg, drug fever, Steven-Johnson syndrome, folate deficiency, cost of resistance, and prolonged carriage of uropathogens in the fecal flora. In my clinical experience, nitrofurantoin has been useful for empirical initial prophylaxis and treatment of recurrent lower UTIs in women. The adverse effects of nitrofurantoin occur mainly with prolonged therapy with chronic renal insufficiency. Nitrofurantoin is a cost-effective and safe alternative to TMP-SMX and does not predispose to resistance.2,5 Clinicians should carefully consider the resistance potential of antibiotics selected for recurrent UTIs. Better alternatives than TMP-SMX, eg, nitrofurantoin, are available and have a long record of effectiveness and lack of resistance. Back to top Article Information Correspondence: Dr Cunha, Chief, Infectious Disease Division, Winthrop-University Hospital, 222 Station Plaza N (Ste 432), Mineola, NY 11501 (bacunha@winthrop.org). Financial Disclosure: None reported. References 1. Beerepoot MA, ter Riet G, Nys S, et al. Cranberries vs antibiotics to prevent urinary tract infections: a randomized double-blind noninferiority trial in premenopausal women. Arch Intern Med. 2011;171(14):1270-127821788542PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 2. Cunha BA. Effective antibiotic-resistance control strategies. Lancet. 2001;357(9265):1307-130811343730PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 3. Cunha BA. Nitrofurantoin—current concepts. Urology. 1988;32(1):67-713291373PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 4. McOsker CC, Fitzpatrick PM. Nitrofurantoin: mechanism of action and implications for resistance development in common uropathogens. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1994;33:(suppl A) 23-307928834PubMedGoogle Scholar 5. Cunha BA. The clinical significance of resistant uropathogens in ambulatory urinary tract infections in women. Scand J Infect Dis. 2006;38(3):235-23616500792PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Archives of Internal Medicine American Medical Association

Prophylaxis for Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections: Nitrofurantoin, Not Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole or Cranberry Juice

Archives of Internal Medicine , Volume 172 (1) – Jan 9, 2012

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References (15)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 2012 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0003-9926
eISSN
1538-3679
DOI
10.1001/archinternmed.2011.613
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

I read with interest the article by Beerepoot et al1 on urinary tract infection (UTI) prophylaxis, which raises important points that merit comment. From a resistance perspective, the article re-emphasizes that trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) is a “high resistance potential” antibiotic that predisposes to resistance among uropathogens. Clinicians should be reminded that resistance is not related to antibiotic volume, duration, or class per se, but rather is associated with individual agents from all antibiotic classes.2 Nitrofurantoin does not predispose to uropathogen resistance for prophylaxis and therapy of short or long duration.3 Another point deserving re-emphasis is that antibiotics with a high resistance potential not only predispose to increased resistance during treatment but such resistant uropathogens may persist in fecal flora for up to 3 months following therapy. Clinicians should take great care in selecting an appropriate antibiotic with a low resistance potential, both to minimize the resistance potential and to prevent prolonged carriage of resistant uropathogens in the fecal flora.2 The study was intended to determine if cranberry juice had antibacterial effects. However, the most important take home message is to avoid TMP-SMX for prophylaxis or therapy of recurrent UTIs.1 Instead, use nitrofurantoin, which is effective against most common uropathogens but does not predispose to resistance. Nitrofurantoin is effective against common uropathogens except Proteus species and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Nitrofurantoin inhibits bacterial growth at 3 different loci in the Kreb's cycle of susceptible uropathogens.3 Nitrofurantoin, rather than TMP-SMX, is ideal for prophylaxis of recurrent lower UTIs and acute complicated cystitis in female patients.4 Another concern in the study is timing and duration of prophylaxis for recurrent UTIs. Excluding relapsing UTIs, reinfecting recurrent UTIs are best treated episodically with a “low resistance potential” antibiotic, eg, nitrofurantoin. It is preferable to treat a few episodes of cystitis per year as needed rather than to use prolonged prophylaxis with TMP-SMX with its associated costs and risks of adverse effects, eg, drug fever, Steven-Johnson syndrome, folate deficiency, cost of resistance, and prolonged carriage of uropathogens in the fecal flora. In my clinical experience, nitrofurantoin has been useful for empirical initial prophylaxis and treatment of recurrent lower UTIs in women. The adverse effects of nitrofurantoin occur mainly with prolonged therapy with chronic renal insufficiency. Nitrofurantoin is a cost-effective and safe alternative to TMP-SMX and does not predispose to resistance.2,5 Clinicians should carefully consider the resistance potential of antibiotics selected for recurrent UTIs. Better alternatives than TMP-SMX, eg, nitrofurantoin, are available and have a long record of effectiveness and lack of resistance. Back to top Article Information Correspondence: Dr Cunha, Chief, Infectious Disease Division, Winthrop-University Hospital, 222 Station Plaza N (Ste 432), Mineola, NY 11501 (bacunha@winthrop.org). Financial Disclosure: None reported. References 1. Beerepoot MA, ter Riet G, Nys S, et al. Cranberries vs antibiotics to prevent urinary tract infections: a randomized double-blind noninferiority trial in premenopausal women. Arch Intern Med. 2011;171(14):1270-127821788542PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 2. Cunha BA. Effective antibiotic-resistance control strategies. Lancet. 2001;357(9265):1307-130811343730PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 3. Cunha BA. Nitrofurantoin—current concepts. Urology. 1988;32(1):67-713291373PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 4. McOsker CC, Fitzpatrick PM. Nitrofurantoin: mechanism of action and implications for resistance development in common uropathogens. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1994;33:(suppl A) 23-307928834PubMedGoogle Scholar 5. Cunha BA. The clinical significance of resistant uropathogens in ambulatory urinary tract infections in women. Scand J Infect Dis. 2006;38(3):235-23616500792PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref

Journal

Archives of Internal MedicineAmerican Medical Association

Published: Jan 9, 2012

Keywords: nitrofurantoin,trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole combination,recurrent urinary tract infections,cranberry preparations

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