Mausumi De, Amit Kumar Ghosh, Saugata Ghosh, Sudip Barua, Subhajit Paul
BACKGROUND Physicians commonly prescribe an alkaliniser along with fluoroquinolones (FQ) in treatment of UTI. The combined effect of these two drugs in our body is unknown. So, we conducted two studies with two different FQ (Pefloxacin and Levofloxacin) with an alkali solution in two separate medical colleges at Kolkata to find out their efficacy in presence of alkali in the treatment of UTI. MATERIALS AND METHODS In our 1st study at SSKM Hospital Kolkata, patients with uncomplicated lower UTI were prescribed Pefloxacin 400 mg (Group-A) and Pefloxacin 400 mg + disodium hydrogen citrate (Group-B). In our 2nd study at RG Kar Medical college, Kolkata patients with uncomplicated lower UTI were prescribed Levofloxacin 250 mg (Group A) and Levofloxacin 250 mg + disodium hydrogen citrate (Group-B). RESULTS Pefloxacin and Levofloxacin can eradicate the uropathogens in more than 90% of cases when used alone but when Pefloxacin and levofloxacin were combined with disodium hydrogen citrate eradication rate reduced to 70% of uropathogens. The possible explanation of this reduced action of fluoroquinolones was that alkali solution may prevent the absorption of FQ from stomach or FQ and may precipitate in alkaline urine or both. So, the MIC of quinolones could not be reached in urine. CONCLUSION Fluoroquinolones should not be co-prescribed with alkali solution.
