Q&A

3 days ciprofloxacin adequate for UTI in older women

J Fam Pract. 2004 June;53(6):442-450
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  • CLINICAL QUESTION: Is 3 days of ciprofloxacin as effective as 7 to 10 days of the same drug for older women with urinary tract infection?
  • STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial (double-blinded)
  • SETTING: Outpatient (any)
  • SYNOPSIS: We know that 3 days of antibiotics is effective for uncomplicated lower UTI in young healthy women. However, most physicians still use a longer course of 7 to 10 days for older women.
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BOTTOM LINE

This reasonably large study found that 3 days of ciprofloxacin (Cipro) twice daily is as effective and better tolerated than 7 days of treatment for healthy older women with urinary tract infection (UTI). Although a much larger study might find a small difference in outcomes, it is unlikely to be clinically meaningful; this study was powered to detect a modest 10% difference in outcomes. (LOE=1b)

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