Antimicrobial agents for treating acute uncomplicated urinary tract infection in women

Acute uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection (UTI), also know as cystitis, is characterised by burning on urination and frequent urination without fever or flank pain. It is a common event in otherwise healthy, non-pregnant adult women. A large range of antimicrobials are used in the treatment of cystitis. Twenty one good quality studies, enrolling 6016 participants, which used different classes of antimicrobials for treating acute cystitis in women for 3 up to 10 days, were included in this review. The classes of antimicrobials included in the review proved equally effective for the symptomatic cure. Fluoroquinolones proved more effective than beta-lactams for the short-term bacteriological cure, but the significance of this finding is doubtful. Fewer rashes developed in patients treated with fluoroquinolones. Nitrofurantoin caused fewer rashes than TMP-SMX while having similar rates of any adverse events. Given the small number of studies included in each comparison and for each outcome it is recommended that further randomised controlled trials be conducted.