Open Forum Infect Dis
Cephalexin for uncomplicated UTI in women: Is qid dosing necessary?
Among women with uncomplicated urinary tract infection (uUTI), twice-daily dosing of cephalexin was as effective as four times daily.
- This retrospective, multicenter, cohort study included 261 adult females with symptomatic uUTI and cefazolin-susceptible urine cultures. Patients were treated with a 5 to 7 day course of cephalexin. Primary outcome was uUTI treatment failure between those treated with cephalexin 500 mg PO bid (n=173) or 500 mg PO qid (n=88). E. coli was the most commonly isolated pathogen (85.4%).
- No difference in treatment failure was found between groups: 12.7% in the bid group vs. 17% in the qid group (P=0.343), including failure while on therapy (2.3% in the bid group vs. 5.7% in the qid group; P=0.438) or recurrence within 30 days (10.4% in the bid group vs. 11.3% in the qid group; P=0.438). Adverse event rates were also similar between groups (4.6% in the bid group vs. 5.6% in the qid group; P=0.103).
- Twice-daily dosing of cephalexin for the treatment of uUTI in women may improve patient adherence.
Source:
Yetsko A, et al. (2023, August 11). Open Forum Infect Dis. Two times versus four times daily cephalexin for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections in females. https://academic.oup.com/ofid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ofid/ofad430/7241477