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TRIMETHOPRIM/SULPHAMETHOXAZOLE IN THE TREATMENT OF URINARY INFECTION
Author(s) -
BRUMFITT WILLIAM,
PURSELL RITA
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1973.tb111187.x
Subject(s) - trimethoprim , dysuria , bacteriuria , medicine , urinary system , pregnancy , urinary infection , ampicillin , sulfamethoxazole , antibiotics , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , genetics
Co‐trimoxazole (TMP/SMX) and trimethoprim were successful in treating urinary infection associated with the dysuria/frequency syndrome and bacteriuria in pregnancy. Both drugs appeared to be more successful than other substances in patients with bacteriuria in pregnancy who had already failed to respond to treatment. Trimethoprim alone is highly effective in vitro against a number of organisms causing urinary infection. It is well absorbed, and may partly owe its favourable results to rapid diffusion into tissues, which would be of special importance in the case of kidney involvement. A double‐blind trial using ampicillin, cephalexin, TMP/SMX and trimethoprim in the treatment of urinary infection was carried out. One hundred and forty‐nine courses of treatment were given to pregnant women, and 107 to patients with dysuria and frequency seen in domiciliary practice. A considerable variation in response was found. In domiciliary infections and bacteriuria in pregnancy, trimethoprim alone proved to be at least as effective as the other three compounds. There was a significantly lower incidence of side effects with trimethoprim alone which is important, since these patients often remain ambulant and at work. The question of development of resistance when this compound is used alone outside hospital has not yet been adequately investigated. Finally, there is no strong evidence to suggest that either co‐trimoxazole or trimethoprim alone cause a serious risk of teratogenicity, but continuous surveillance and new studies are needed. No gross hæmatological disorder was found after the use of co‐trimoxazole, but more detailed studies are in progress.