Kinetics and comparative efficacy of ofloxacin versus co-trimoxazole in the asymptomatic bacteriuria of elderly subjects.

In a prospective randomized study ofloxacin (400 mg orally once daily) versus co-trimoxazole (320/1,600 mg orally once daily) were given for 3 weeks in 30 and 22 elderly semimobile patients respectively, suffering from asymptomatic bacteriuria. From the obtained results it was evident that: (a) ofloxacin was superior to co-trimoxazole regarding eradication of bacteriuria (p less than 0.05) particularly in patients with a positive antibody-coated bacteria test; (b) a high rate of superinfections and reinfections with strains resistant to co-trimoxazole was observed in both groups indicative of hidden underlying conditions predisposing to urinary tract infections and (c) ofloxacin did not accumulate in serum during prolonged therapy but the half-life ranged between 8.3 and 10.2 h.