Old Drug Works as Well as Antibiotics Against Urinary Infections

An old antiseptic drug worked as well as antibiotics to prevent recurrent urinary tract infections in a study, offering promise as an alternative to wide use of anti-infectives that can contribute to the rise of resistant strains.

The medicine, methenamine hippurate, converts to formaldehyde in the presence of acidity, killing bacteria in urine. In the trial, 240 women were split into two groups, each getting either the drug or an antibiotic, and followed for a year. Researchers found a comparable reduction in the rate of infections in both groups.

Widespread and often unnecessary use of antibiotics gives germs ...