title: Role of phytotherapy associated with antibiotic prophylaxis in female patients with recurrent urinary tract infections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a phytotherapic which includes Solidago, Orthosiphon and Birch extract (Cistimev®) in association with antibiotic prophylaxis in female patients affected by recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIr).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients affected by UTIr older than 18 years started a 3-months antibiotic prophylaxis (Prulifloxacin 600 mg, 1 cps/week or Phosphomicyn 1 cachet/week) according to antibiogram after urine culture. The patients were divided in 2 groups: Group A: antibiotic prophylaxis plus phytotherapy (1 cps/die for 3 months) and Group B: antibiotic prophylaxis alone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  164 consecutive patients were studied: 107 were included in group A (mean age 59 ± 17.3 years) and 57 (mean age 61 ± 15.7) in group B. During the treatment period the relapse frequencies between the two groups were not significantly different (p = 0.854): 12/107 (11.21%) patients interrupted the treatment for UTIr in group A and 6/57 (10.52%) in group B. In the long term follow-up the relapse UTI risk was significant different in the two groups with a relapse risk 2.5 greater in group B than in group A (p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrated that in female patients affected by recurrent UTI, the association between antibiotic prophylaxis and of a phytotherapic which includes Solidago, Orthosiphon and Birch extract reduced the number of UTI in the 12 months following the end of prophylaxis and obtained a longer relapsing time, greatly improving the quality of life of the patients.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Urologica e Andrologica di Perugia, Università degli Studi di Perugia. emanuela.frumenzio@virgilio.it.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frumenzio
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maglia
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salvini
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giovannozzi
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Biase
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bini
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Costantini
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004148:Dioxolanes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D024841:Fluoroquinolones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005578:Fosfomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004148:Dioxolanes; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D010879:Piperazines; D005578:Fosfomycin; C074191:prulifloxacin