Efficacy of single-dose therapy of urinary tract infection in infants and children: a review.
The role of single-dose therapy was evaluated by pooling data on 320 infants and children included in 12 clinical trials that differed from each other in many variables. Single-dose therapy achieved an overall cure rate of 89%, but varied with different antimicrobial agents. Intramuscular aminoglycosides were the best (cure rate: 96%) closely followed by trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or a sulfa drug with a cure rate of 90%. The cure rate with amoxicillin (75%) was significantly less. Single-dose therapy was most effective (cure rate: 90%) in well-documented lower urinary tract infections (UTIs) and slightly less effective (cure rate: 89%) among those in whom upper UTI could not be excluded. In patients with a normal urinary tract, single-dose therapy was significantly more effective (cure rate: 93%) than in the group of 36 patients with a urinary tract malformation (cure rate: 69%). Single-dose therapy can be used with confidence in patients with lower UTIs and in those with normal urinary tracts. In patients with abnormal urinary tracts and lower UTIs, single-dose therapy may be used with caution, preferably using aminoglycosides. Further studies are required to establish a definitive role of single-dose therapy in patients with urinary tract malformation.
Department of Pediatrics, Interfaith Medical Center Campus/Meharry Medical College, Brooklyn, New York.
A J
AJ
Khan
D000293:Adolescent; D000892:Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000892:Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary