We would like to express an opinion about a recent publication in your journal concerning the use of short-course ciprofloxacin for the treatment of acute uncomplicated urinary tract infection in (otherwise healthy) women.1 We question the use of any broadspectrum agent (including fluoroquinolones) for the treatment of this type of urinary tract infection. We submit that the real value of the fluoroquinolone antibiotics is still as unique oral agents for the treatment of resistant gram-negative bacillary infections when their use clearly decreases hospitalization time or the need for intravenous therapy.
We are currently experiencing a global problem of increasing resistance to microorganisms, some of which are becoming a major concern in the United States (eg, penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, multidrugresistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus, and vancomycinresistant enterococci). The American Medical Association has acknowledged this problem to the extent that it has announced that its 10 affiliated journals will feature