[Urinary tract infections: new approaches]. / Infezioni delle vie urinarie: nuovi orientamenti.

Evidence that cure in acute, uncomplicated UTI will be achieved with a single-dose treatment is reported. In according with experimental works on pyelonephritis and pharmacological and pharmacocynetic data on new aminoglycoside antibiotics, authors proposed a new approach in the management of UTI, acute bacterial pyelonephritis and asymptomatic bacteriuria in children. Association of bolus dose therapy, non chemoantibiotical control of periurethral and intestinal ecosystem, with frequent and systematic monitoring of bacteriuria, seems to be effective to control infection and to prevent the development of renal scarring. Management of UTI in childhood could be easier and not require intensive and prolonged courses of antimicrobial therapy.

[Considerations about new cephalosporins]. / Considerazione sulle nuove cefalosporine.

Spectrum of antibacterial activity, pharmacokinetics, adverse effects, dosage and therapeutic uses of newer cephalosporins are reviewed, following data of the most recent international works. AA. think that advantages of the new compounds in comparison with previous cephalosporins, are not so important that might modify their opinion on the role of cephalosporins in therapy: cephalosporins are useful, effective and safe chemotherapeutic agents, but all are overused and, only exceptionally, they could be claimed as a first choice antibiotics. Attempts should be made to define the precise indications for the use of the several members of the group before deciding which are really necessary, when it is really necessary. Newer cephalosporins should be reserved for situations in which they may be preferred to others chemo-antibiotics because of their relative safety or because of organism resistance to better established drugs. The present newer cephalosporins are generally effective when used wisely, in hospitalised patients, but therapy will often be significantly more expensive than a current chemo-antibiotic treatment.

[Acute renal failure and multiple trauma]. / L'insufficienza renale acuta nel politraumatizzato.

Only recently the relationship between trauma and acute renal failure has been described on a rational basis. Shock is commonly a major pathogenetic factor in tubulo-interstitial damage often associated with other causes, such as toxic agents, toxins, immunologic and coagulation mechanisms. The Authors consider the various patterns of acute renal failure such as the "functional, tubulo-interstitial, cortical necrosis" and analyze the different etiopathogenesis. Finally they report the mortality rate of acute renal failure in S. Giovanni Hospital of Turin from 1969 to 1979.