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Journal article

Long-term antibiotics for prevention of recurrent urinary tract infection in older adults: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials.

Abstract:

Objective

To address clinical uncertainties about the effectiveness and safety of long-term antibiotic therapy for preventing recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in older adults.

Design

Systematic review andmeta-analysis of randomised trials.

Method

We searched Medline, Embase, The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature(CINAHL), and the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials from inception to August 2016. Eligible studies compared long-term antibiotic therapy with non-antibiotic therapy or placebo in men or women aged over 65, or in postmenopausal women, with recurrent UTIs.

Results

We did not identify any studies that included older men. Three randomised controlled trials compared long-term antibiotics with vaginal oestrogens (n=150), oral lactobacilli (n=238) and D-mannose powder (n=94) in postmenopausal women. Long-term antibiotics reduced the risk of UTI recurrence by 24% (three trials, n=482; pooled risk ratio (RR) 0.76; 95% CI 0.61 to 0.95, number needed to treat=8.5). There was no statistically significant increase in risk of adverse events (mild adverse events: pooled RR 1.52; 95% CI 0.76 to 3.03; serious adverse events: pooled RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.31 to 2.66). One trial showed 90% of urinary and faecal Escherichia coli isolates were resistant to trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole after 1 month of prophylaxis.

Conclusions

Findings from three small trials with relatively short follow-up periods suggest long-term antibiotic therapy reduces the risk of recurrence in postmenopausal women with recurrent UTI. We did not identify any evidence to inform several clinically important scenarios including, benefits and harms in older men or frail care home residents, optimal duration of prophylaxis, recurrence rates once prophylaxis stops and effects on urinary antibiotic resistance.

Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1136/bmjopen-2016-015233

Authors


More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
Medical Sciences Division
Department:
Primary Care; Primary Care Health Sciences
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-0102-3453


Publisher:
BMJ Publishing Group
Journal:
BMJ Open More from this journal
Volume:
7
Issue:
5
Pages:
e015233
Publication date:
2017-05-01
Acceptance date:
2017-02-23
DOI:
EISSN:
2044-6055
ISSN:
2044-6055
Pmid:
28554926


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
pubs:698141
UUID:
uuid:b1c1a681-623f-43d6-a2ea-f3395d08f78e
Local pid:
pubs:698141
Source identifiers:
698141
Deposit date:
2018-01-12

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