Phenazopyridine and fosfomycin for the acute cystitis treatment: results of multicenter randomized study

Aim. To evaluate the analgesic effect, efficacy and tolerability of phenazopyridine in combination with fosfomycin for the treatment of acute uncomplicated cystitis in working-age female. Material and methods. A total of 152 women with acute uncomplicated cystitis were included in multicenter, randomized, open-label study which were carried out in 5 polyclinics of the Perm Territory. All the patients were divided into 2 groups of 76 people each, depending on the treatment. In the main group, women received oral phenazopyridine 200 mg 3 times a day for 2 days (a total dose 1200 mg) and fosfomycin trometamol in a dose of 3 g once. In the control group, patients received a single dose of fosfomycin trometamol (3 g) and drotaverin 80 mg 3 times a day for 2 days. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used for evaluation of pain intensity. The symptoms of cystitis were assessed using the ACSS scale. In addition, urinalysis, urine culture and other methods were done. The results were evaluated after 6, 12, 24, 48 hours, 3 and 6 days. Results. In the main group, the severity of pain according to the VAS decreased from the initial 7.2±0.5 points to 1.6±0.2 points after 12 hours, to 0.4 ± 0.05 points after 24 hours. Pain syndrome completely disappeared in all patients after 48 hours. In the control group, at all time points, a significant less pronounced analgesic effect was seen (p<0.001). The overall ACSS score in the main group decreased from the 12.0±0.5 points to 2.1±0.3 after 3 days and to 0.28±0.04 points after 6 days (p<0.001), which indicated a more rapid resolution of symptoms compared to the control group. The symptomatic effect of phenazopyridine (relief of pain, dysuria and discomfort) provided a more pronounced improvement in the well-being in the main group in comparison to the control group, which was confirmed by Dynamics domain of the ACSS scale (p<0.001). The combination of fosfomycin and phenazopyridine was more effective than the combination of fosfomycin and drotaverine. The clinical and microbiological cure rate in the main group was 97.4% and 96.9%, respectively. Leukocyturia was resolved earlier, and the duration of treatment decreased by 30.1%. An undesirable effect of phenazopyridine (nausea) was detected only in 1 (1.3%) patient. Conclusion. Phenazopyridine has a pronounced analgesic effect and is proved to be an effective and safe drug in patients with acute uncomplicated cystitis.

acute uncomplicated cystitis, urinary tract infection, dysuria, conservative treatment, phenazopyridine, fosfomycin