ANTIBACTERIAL MANAGEMENT OF URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS

Abstract

In a study not yet completed, our data at present indicate that at least 20% of all patients coming to autopsy at Wesley Memorial Hospital had gross or microscopic evidence of active or healed pyelonephritis. The condition was diagnosed ante mortem in only 6% of the cases. These figures are in agreement with those of other workers. 1 Such findings, together with our frequent inability permanently to control urinary tract infections, led to the present study, which is a critical evaluation of the problems in our own cases of the past 18 months. Current medical literature abounds with enthusiastic reports of the efficacy of the antibiotics, sulfonamides, and sulfonamide mixtures in urinary tract infections. Immediate results with these new agents have prompted us to share this enthusiasm, but a careful review of our longterm observation has shown that favorable effects often are only temporary. All patients on our own services