Choosing Initial Antibiotic Therapy for Acute Pyelonephritis

An AHP model was used to develop antibiotic treatment guidelines for young women hospitalized for acute pyelonephritis. Seven antibiotic regimens representative of current treatment recommendations were compared relative to four major criteria. The resulting analysis identified a combined regimen of ampicillin and gentamicin as the best choice for initial treatment pending results of urine culture and antibiotic sensitivity testing. The use of this regimen was recommended to a group of physicians. Subsequently the use of ampicillin and gentamicin increased significantly in young women with pyelonephritis. This study shows that a significant change in the process of patient care was associated with treatment recommendations based on the AHP. This finding indicates that the AΗΡ may be a valuable tool for helping physicians make better, more logically consistent patient management decisions.