Use of Antimicrobial Prophylaxis in Lover Um-nary Tract Instrumenilion

Routine antibiotic prophylaxin was performed in 36 patients undergoing lower urinary tract ins-trumentation. A three day course of a once a day of 1 g of Cephalexin was compared with a three day co-urse of 100 mg. of Nitrofurantoin three times a day, in a blinded placebo contolled study. Both drugs were significantly more efeective in preventing pos-tinstrumentation urinary tract infections than pla-cebo (P>0.003). Differences in efficacy between the two drugs were not significant; however, side effects in the Nitrofurantoin group more frequent and im-portant than those in Cephalexin group. Cephalexin also offered the advantage of a once daily dosing schedule.