Microbiology & Immunology Publications
Title
Potential preventive strategies and therapies in urinary tract infection
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-1997
Journal
Spinal Cord
Volume
35
Issue
9
First Page
605
Last Page
607
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.1038/sj.sc.3100456
Abstract
Spinal cord injured patients are highly prone to urinary tract infections. The high frequency of recurrences, the problems with drug resistance and the difficulties associated with diagnosis complicate the management. In a preliminary retrospective study of 30 patient files, we discovered that prophylactic antimicrobial therapy with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, significantly reduced the incidence of symptomatic urinary tract infections. The prevention of infection resulted in cheaper healthcare expenses than treatment. One problematic outcome was that antibiotic therapy resulted in a dramatic change in the population of uropathogens infecting the host, from a predominantly Gram negative type to one dominated by Enterococcus faecalis.