Two-thirds of women found ibuprofen to be sufficient treatment
Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) account for 25% of antibiotic prescriptions in general practice. Most UTIs are self-limiting, meaning symptomatic treatment could provide an alternative to antibiotics. Researchers from Germany randomly assigned 494 women with symptoms of an uncomplicated UTI to a single 3g dose of fosfomycin (n=243) or 3x400mg doses of ibuprofen (n=241) over three days.
Two-thirds of women given ibuprofen recovered without the need for antibiotics. The remaining 85 women required 94 courses of antibiotics — a much lower figure than the 283 courses in the antibiotic group. However, there was a higher symptom burden and a higher rate of pyelonephritis (2.0% vs 0.4%) in women assigned to ibuprofen.
The researchers conclude in The BMJ (online, 23 December 2015)[1] that ibuprofen could be an option for some women with mild to moderate symptoms or used with a delayed prescription.