Nalidixic acid: Microbiological and clinical studies on urinary infections in children

Abstract

A trial is reported of the treatment with nalidixic acid (Negram) of 31 children with urinary infections due to Gram-negative organisms. The patients ranged from 6 months to 14 years of age, and manyhad congenital abnormalities of the urinary tract with a long history of urinary infections. An over-all success rate of 67% was achieved, though in coliform infections 85% of cases responded to treatment. 6 out of 10 Proteus infections were also eradicated. Emergence of resistant strains of organisms during treatment was seen in some cases, and reasons for this are discussed. Microbiological aspects of the trial are reported in some detail and suggestions are made concerning selection of cases for treatment. It appears that nalidixic acid is a valuable antibacterial agent for treating urinary infections in children. No toxic effects attributable to the drug were seen, though further work is required to determine the metabolic pathway of the drug and to explain certain anomalous results that have occurred.