In vitro sensitivity of organisms causing urinary tract infections to four common oral antibiotics and to pivmecillinam

The in-vitro sensitivity to ampicillin, cotrimoxazole, nitrofuratoin, nalidixic acid and mecillinam was determined for 511 organisms isolated from 399 consecutive urine specimens. Urine specimens were divided into those of hospital in-patient origin (group A) and those from comunity patients(group B). Group B organisms were more sensitive than group A organisms. Over 75% of all group B organisms were sensitive to nitrofurantoin, nalidixic acid and mecillinam. Organisms resistant to multiple antibiotics were more frequently isolated from group A catheterized patients and are now less frequently isolated than in 1983. The antibiotic implications of these findings are discussed