Trimethoprim reduced dysuria in women with symptoms of urinary tract infection but negative urine dipstick test results
Q Are antibiotics effective for treatment of women with symptoms of urinary tract infection (UTI) but negative results on urine dipstick testing?
METHODS
Design:
randomised, placebo controlled trial.
Allocation:
concealed.
Blinding:
blinded (patients, healthcare providers, data collectors, and {outcome assessors}*).
Follow up period:
3 and 7 days.
Setting:
general practices in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Patients:
66 women who were 16–50 years of age and had a history of dysuria and frequency and a negative dipstick test for both leucocytes and nitrates. (7 women were excluded after randomisation because they did not meet the age criteria.) Exclusion criteria were pregnancy, complicated UTI including symptoms of pyelonephritis, known allergy to trimethoprim, proven UTI, or treatment for presumed UTI in the past month.
Intervention:
26 women were allocated to trimethoprim, 300 mg, for 3 days, and 33 were allocated to placebo.
Outcomes:
main outcomes were resolution of dysuria at 3 …
