Treatment duration of pivmecillinam in men, non-pregnant and pregnant women for community-acquired urinary tract infections caused by Escherichia coli: a retrospective Danish cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the importance of treatment duration for therapeutic efficacy of pivmecillinam for community-acquired urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by Escherichia coli. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted between 1 January 2010 and 30 September 2016 in adults with community-acquired E. coli bacteriuria, treated empirically with pivmecillinam. Regimens of 3, 5 and 7 days were compared using clinical treatment failure (i.e. redemption of a new antibiotic or hospitalization due to UTI) within 14 and 30 days as outcome. HR and risk difference with 95% CI were estimated for treatment failure. Results were stratified by age (18-50, 51-70, >70 years) and sex. RESULTS: Of the 21864 cases of E. coli UTI that were analysed, 2524 (11.5%) were in men. In 954 cases (4.4%) E. coli produced ESBL and 125 (13.1%) of the cases were in men. The 3 day regimen increased the risk of treatment failure for all groups. The risk differences between the 3 and 5 day regimens were <10% for women, but >10% for men. Comparing the 7 day and 5 day regimens, only women aged >50 years demonstrated an increased risk of treatment failure within 14 days with the 5 day regimen, but not within 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: With the current data, where data on clinical classification of the E. coli UTI were missing, a 5 day treatment with pivmecillinam at 400 mg three times daily seems to be the rational recommendation for lower UTI in men, pregnant women and women >50 years old. A 3 day regimen seems sufficient for non-pregnant women <50 years old.

Risk of miscarriage for pregnant users of pivmecillinam: a population-based case-control study.

Few data exist on the risk of miscarriage after exposure to pivmecillinam. We therefore conducted a population-based case-control study in a Danish county with 0.5 million inhabitants during the period 1997-2002. We included 1,599 women with a miscarriage recorded in the Hospital Discharge Registry and selected 10 controls per case among primiparous women who had a live birth during the study period. Controls were selected from the Danish Medical Birth Registry. We obtained data on use of pivmecillinam and sulfamethizole from a prescription database. Five cases (0.30%) and 24 controls (0.15%) were exposed to pivmecillinam in the last week before the miscarriage/index date. After adjustment for maternal age, use of antidiabetics or antiepileptics, the odds ratio for miscarriages among users of pivmecillinam compared with non-users was 2.03 (95% confidence interval: 0.77-5.33) and the corresponding odds ratio for use of sulfamethizole was 1.53 (95% confidence interval: 0.76-3.09). Exposure within 2 to 12 weeks before the miscarriage was not associated with an increased risk. We concluded that use of pivmecillinam was associated with an increased risk of miscarriage, but the risk was not significantly (p=0.64) different from the risk associated with use of sulfamethizole.

Clinical and bacteriological outcome of different doses and duration of pivmecillinam compared with placebo therapy of uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection in women: the LUTIW project.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse associations between symptoms and bacteriuria in uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection in women (LUTIW) and to evaluate outcome of therapy with three different regimens of pivmecillinam or placebo. DESIGN: Prospective, multicentre, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled therapy study. Symptoms registered at inclusion, during therapy and at follow-up visits after 8-10 and 35-49 days. Significant bacteriuria defined according to current European guidelines. SETTING: A total of 18 primary healthcare centres in northern Sweden. Subjects. Women aged 18 years and above with symptoms of urgency, dysuria, supra pubic or loin pain. Main outcome measures. Symptoms and bacteriuria at inclusion and course of symptoms, bacteriuria, and their combinations during and post-therapy. RESULTS: At inclusion, no associations or significant differences were found between symptom scores and bacteriuria, bacterial counts, or species. The 884 patients (77%) with significant bacteriuria were followed up. All pivmecillinam therapies were superior to placebo (p < 0.001). From day six until first follow-up, the mean values of all symptoms were higher and the bacteriological cure was lower at first follow-up in the three days (84%) compared with the seven days regimens (93-94%, p < 0.001). At final follow-up clinical cure was similar in all pivmecillinam regimens (65-72%) as was bacteriological cure (83-89%). Pivmecillinam had few low to mild adverse reactions, comparable to placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Symptoms are not conclusive for diagnosis of LUTIW. Pivmecillinam therapies are superior to placebo and seven days regimens are more efficient than three days. Pivmecillinam 200 mg x 2 x 7 days is recommended as a first-line therapy for LUTIW.

Pivmecillinam and adverse birth and neonatal outcomes: a population-based cohort study.

A previous study unexpectedly showed an increased, statistically imprecise, risk of low Apgar score in children of women redeeming prescriptions for pivmecillinam in late pregnancy. To improve statistical precision we extended the previous dataset with data for 5 more y, and in addition added more neonatal outcomes. We thus examined the risk of adverse birth and neonatal outcomes among pregnant users of pivmecillinam based on population-based registries in North Jutland County, Denmark. We included 63,659 women with a live birth, or stillbirth after the 28th week of gestation. 2031 had redeemed prescriptions for pivmecillinam any time during pregnancy, 559 in the first trimester and 371 within 28 d before delivery. Adjusted odds ratios were: birth defects 0.83 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.53-1.32) for exposure during first trimester, preterm delivery 0.96 (95% CI 0.79-1.18) and low birth weight 0.79 (95% CI 0.52-1.20) for exposure any time during pregnancy, and stillbirth 1.19 (95% CI 0.30-4.80), low Apgar score 1.17 (95% CI 0.37-3.66), hypoglycaemia 1.03 (95% CI 0.53-2.00), and respiratory distress syndrome 0.79 (95% CI 0.38-1.68) for exposure within 28 d before delivery. Use of pivmecillinam during pregnancy did not appear to increase the risk of adverse birth and neonatal outcomes; however, statistical precision is still low.

Hyperammonemic encephalopathy induced by a combination of valproate and pivmecillinam.

We describe the clinical and neurophysiological findings in a case of hyperammonemic encephalopathy. A 72-year-old woman taking valproate (VPA), as monotherapy for her partial epilepsy developed urinary tract infection. She was treated with pivmecillinam 600 mg daily. The following days she deteriorated and became stuporous. At admission her serum ammonia level was increased (113 mmol/l) but the liver function appeared normal. EEG showed bilateral triphasic waves and continuous high-amplitude delta-theta wave. The patient recovered rapidly after discontinuation of VPA and i.v. treatment with cefuroxime for her urinary tract infection. VPA-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy in adults is a rare phenomenon, especially when VPA is used as monotherapy. It has been suggested that the VPA-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy is due to reduced serum carnitine concentration. Pivmecillinam, a widely used antibiotic for treatment of urinary tract infections, is also known to decrease the serum carnitine concentration. Our case shows that caution is required when treatment with VPA is combined with pivmecillinam due to the risk of developing hyperammonemic encephalopathy.

Symptomatic vaginal candidiasis after pivmecillinam and norfloxacin treatment of acute uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection.

The comparative incidence of symptomatic vaginal candidiasis associated with pivmecillinam and norfloxacin treatment in women with acute symptomatic uncomplicated UTI was determined in two randomised, double-blind, clinical trials. Adverse events reported following general enquiry were reviewed. Presence of Candida vaginitis was based upon the specification as such by investigators, the presence of specific symptoms such as genital pruritus and/or the prescription of specific anti Candida therapy. The incidences of Candida vaginitis were as follows; Study 1 pivmecillinam 200 mg tid for 7 days 13 (4.6%), pivmecillinam 200 mg bid for 7 days 7 (2.4%), pivmecillinam 400 mg bid for 3 days 6 (2.1%) and placebo 6 (2.1%), P=0.19. Study 2 pivmecillinam 400 mg bid for 3 days 7 (1.5%), norfloxacin 400 mg bid for 3 days 20 (4.3%), P=0.016. The incidence of Candida vaginitis in women with acute symptomatic uncomplicated UTI given 3 days treatment with pivmecillinam 400 mg bid is similar to that seen with placebo and is significantly less than the incidence with norfloxacin 400 mg bid for 3 days.

Birth outcome and risk of neonatal hypoglycaemia following in utero exposure to pivmecillinam: a population-based cohort study with 414 exposed pregnancies.

Concerns have been raised as to the safety of using pivaloyl-conjugated beta-lactam antibiotics during pregnancy as they cause carnitine depletion. Restrictions have been recommended in some Scandinavian countries as drug-induced carnitine depletion could constitute a risk to the developing foetus. One of these drugs, pivmecillinam, is widely used against urinary tract infections but few data exist concerning its safety in pregnancy. In a cohort study, we compared the prevalences of congenital abnormalities, pre-term delivery, low birth weight, low Apgar score and neonatal hypoglycaemia in the offspring of 414 women who had at least 1 prescription for pivmecillinam redeemed during pregnancy with those of the offspring of 7472 pregnant women for whom no drugs were prescribed during pregnancy. The prevalence of congenital abnormalities was 1.7% among 119 infants exposed in the first trimester and 3.7% among the reference group [odds ratio (OR) 0.46; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.11-1.86]. We found no significantly increased risks in either pre-term delivery (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.11-1.86), low birth weight (OR 0.57, 95%, CI 0.23-1.41), low Apgar score (OR 2.32, 95% CI 0.30-18.16) or hypoglycaemia (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.18-3.00) that were induced by carnitine depletion. No significantly increased risk in adverse birth outcome was therefore found in women treated with pivmecillinam.

Pivmecillinam in the treatment of urinary tract infections.

The efficacy of pivmecillinam for empirical treatment of acute uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) was initially reported in clinical trials published in the 1970s and 1980s. Bacteriological cure rates observed in these trials were consistently >85%, and studies of different dosing regimens suggested that a 3 day course was appropriate. Comparative studies reported that pivmecillinam was equivalent to other antimicrobial agents in terms of clinical and bacteriological outcomes. These studies also documented that pivmecillinam was effective for treatment of Staphylococcus saprophyticus infections, was acceptable for use in pregnancy and was well tolerated. Subsequent widespread use of pivmecillinam in Scandinavian countries has led to a body of clinical experience which confirms the efficacy and safety of this antimicrobial agent in the treatment of acute cystitis. Recently, two large, prospective, randomized, double-blind, multi-centre clinical trials have been completed to assist in defining the role of this antimicrobial agent in the treatment of acute cystitis. A comparison of 3 day courses of pivmecillinam or norfloxacin, both at 400 mg bd, showed higher bacteriological cure rates with norfloxacin but generally similar clinical outcomes. A second, dose-ranging study found that pivmecillinam, given bd for 7 days, led to superior bacteriological and clinical outcomes at short-term follow-up than the 3 day regimen. Pooling bacteriological outcomes from the two studies showed similar outcomes with 7 days of pivmecillinam 200 mg bd or 3 days of norfloxacin 400 mg bd. The shorter, 3 day, course achieved similar short-term clinical outcomes to 7 days of pivmecillinam and 3 days of norfloxacin in women aged < or =50 years. These recent studies confirm earlier reports and clinical experience that pivmecillinam is effective and well tolerated for the treatment of acute cystitis in women.

Comparison of pivmecillinam and cephalexin in acute uncomplicated urinary tract infection.

The clinical and bacteriological efficacy of a 3-day course of pivmecillinam, 200 mg three times daily, was compared with that of a 7-day course of cephalexin, 250 mg four times daily, in 216 patients with a bacteriologically confirmed, acute, uncomplicated, urinary tract infection. Both treatments were similarly effective. Clinical cure or improvement was obtained in 95.3% of patients given pivmecillinam and in 93.6% of patients given cephalexin. Bacteriological success was achieved in 89.7 and 81.7% patients taking pivmecillinam or cephalexin, respectively. Eradication rates for Escherichia coli were 90.1% for pivmecillinam and 80.6% for cephalexin. Both treatments were well tolerated. This study has confirmed that a 3-day course of pivmecillinam is effective and well tolerated in uncomplicated cystitis.

Randomised trial of pivampicillin plus pivmecillinam vs. pivampicillin in children and young adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and infection with Haemophilus influenzae.

A prospective, randomised, single-blind comparative trial was carried out to determine whether double beta-lactam treatment with pivampicillin plus pivmecillinam is more effective than pivampicillin alone in the treatment of recurrent and chronic lung infections with Haemophilus influenzae in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or cystic fibrosis (CF). Fifty-six children and young adults with COPD or CF were randomised to the clinical study. The patients were allocated at random to receive perorally either pivmecillinam, 40 mg/kg/day, combined with pivampicillin, 50 mg/kg/day, or pivampicillin 50 mg/kg/day alone for 14 days. A cross-over pharmacokinetic study using the same drugs was carried out in 10 CF patients to determine the antibiotic concentrations in serum and sputum after a single dose of each drug. The clinical study showed no significant differences in clinical scoring, lung function tests or adverse events after treatment with pivampicillin plus pivmecillinam or pivampicillin alone. Follow-up microbiological evaluation 2 and 6 weeks after the end of treatment showed that the offending pathogen was eradicated in 68% of the patients treated with pivampicillin plus pivmecillinam and in 67% of the patients treated with pivampicillin alone. Reinfection with another biotype was more common in the combination group (50% vs. 21%) than in the pivampicillin group. In the pharmacokinetic study the median peak serum concentration occurred two hours after intake of tablets. The efficacy of double beta lactam treatment in lung infections with H. influenzae appears to be equivalent to that of ampicillin on clinical lung symptoms, lung function tests, adverse effects and bacteriology.

Randomised comparison of ciprofloxacin suspension and pivmecillinam for childhood shigellosis.

BACKGROUND: Infections caused by multiply resistant Shigella species are a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in Third World countries. The fluoroquinolone agent ciprofloxacin is active in vitro against these strains of bacteria, but has not been routinely used to treat acute childhood infections because of concern that quinolones may cause arthropathy in children. We undertook a randomised double-blind study to test the effects of ciprofloxacin treatment in children with shigella dysentery. METHODS: We compared the efficacy and toxic effects of ciprofloxacin suspension (10 mg/kg every 12 h for 5 days, maximum individual dose 500 mg) with those of pivmecillinam tablets (15-20 mg/kg every 8 h for 5 days, maximum individual dose 300 mg). We enrolled 143 children aged 2-15 years with dysentery of 72 h or less duration. Patients stayed in hospital for 6 days, and were followed up 7, 30, and 180 days after hospital discharge. Joint symptoms and function were assessed daily for 6 days. Clinical success was defined as the absence of frank dysentery on day 3, and on day 5 no bloody-mucoid stools, one or no watery stool, six or fewer total stools, and no fever. If no shigella were isolated from faecal samples on day 3 or thereafter, treatment was judged bacteriologically successful. FINDINGS: 13 patients were excluded since they did not meet eligibility criteria; 10 withdrew before day 5. Thus 120 patients (60 in each group) completed the study. Treatment was clinically successful in 48 (80%) of 60 patients who received ciprofloxacin and in 39 (65%) of 60 patients who received pivmecillinam (p=0.10). Treatment was bacteriologically successful in all of the patients receiving ciprofloxacin, and in 54 (90%) of the patients receiving pivmecillinam (p=0.03). Joint pain after treatment began in 13 (18%) of 71 patients who received ciprofloxacin and 16 (22%) of 72 patients who received pivmecillinam (p>0.2), and no patient had signs of arthritis. INTERPRETATION: In our trial, ciprofloxacin suspension and pivmecillinam had the same clinical efficacy. Ciprofloxacin had greater bacteriological efficacy and was not associated with the development of arthropathy. We conclude that ciprofloxacin is an effective and safe drug for use in multiply resistant childhood shigellosis.

Pivalic acid-induced carnitine deficiency and physical exercise in humans.

To study the effect of carnitine depletion on physical working capacity, healthy subjects were administered pivaloyl-conjugated antibiotics for 54 days. The mean carnitine concentration in serum decreased from 35.0 to 3.5 mmicromol/L, and in muscle from 10 to 4.3 micromol/g noncollagen protein (NCP). Exercise tests were performed before and after 54 days' administration of the drug. At submaximal exercise, there was a slight increase in the concentration of 3-hydroxybutyrate in serum, presumably caused by decreased fatty acid oxidation in the liver. There was also a decreased consumption of muscle glycogen, indicating decreased glycolysis in the skeletal muscle. The muscle presumably had enough energy available, since there was no significant decrease in the concentration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and creatine phosphate during exercise. The work at maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and the maximal heart rate were reduced. Since VO2max is considered dependent on heart function, carnitine depletion seemed to affect cardiac function.

Transient reduction of human left ventricular mass in carnitine depletion induced by antibiotics containing pivalic acid.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of induced carnitine depletion on myocardial structure and function. SUBJECTS AND DESIGN: 7 healthy adult volunteers given 1200 mg pivmecillinam per day for 7-8 weeks were studied by echocardiography before and after 7-8 weeks of treatment and a 15 months follow up after the treatment period. SETTING: Teaching hospital. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Carnitine concentration in serum, urine, and muscle and echocardiographic measurements. RESULTS: After 7-8 weeks of treatment the median free serum carnitine concentration was reduced to 7% and the median total muscle carnitine concentration to 46% of the pretreatment levels. The median diastolic interventricular septum thickness decreased by 14% (mean 26%, P = 0.028) and the median left ventricular mass by 10% (mean 20%, P = 0.018). Fifteen months later these dimensions had increased but not completely returned to pretreatment values. CONCLUSIONS: Extended treatment with pivalic acid containing antibiotics causes carnitine depletion which may lead to changes in cardiac structure.

Effect of short-term treatment with pivalic acid containing antibiotics on serum carnitine concentration--a risk irrespective of age.

Treatment with pivalic acid containing prodrugs has been shown to cause carnitine depletion by loss of pivaloyl carnitine in urine. A 7-day standard pivmecillinam treatment of adults lead to a marked decrease of the free serum carnitine concentration (44.6 to 12.9 mumol/liter), whereas no change was seen in those given norfloxacine (40.0 to 40.5 mumol/liter). In some patients irrespective of age the free serum carnitine concentration was decreased to levels (around 10 mumol/liter) at which an impaired ketone-body production may occur. Therefore, there is reason for cautious use of this type of drug irrespective of the age of the patients.

[Slow replenishment of carnitine level after long-term treatment with pivampicillin/pivmecillinam]. / Langsom gjenoppbygging av karnitinnivå etter langtidsbehandling med pivampicillin/pivmecillinam.

Long-term treatment with pivampicillin and pivmecillinam for 6-24 months in five adults and one child reduced the total serum carnitine concentrations to 3.7-14.0 mumol/l (reference value 25-66 mumol/l). The muscle carnitine was reduced to 0.3-0.7 mumol/g wet weight (reference value 3-5 mumol/g) in two cases. All patients had asthenia and muscle symptoms with weakness and pain. One showed signs of carnitine depletion in the liver, with increased secretion of dicarboxylic acids (C6, C8, C10) in urine and limited ketone body formation during prolonged fasting (32 hours). The serum carnitine increased slowly after cessation of therapy and reached normal concentrations after 6-12 months. All symptoms caused by carnitine depletion disappeared after the serum carnitine reached 20 mumol/l. This was achieved on a normal diet without carnitine supplement.

Slow replenishment of carnitine deficiency after cessation of long-term treatment with pivaloyl-containing antibiotics.

Long-term treatment with pivampicillin and pivmecillinam for 6-24 months in five adults and one child reduced the total serum carnitine concentration to 3.7-14 mumol/l (reference value: 25-66 mumol/l). Muscle carnitine was reduced to 0.3-0.7 mumol/g wet weight (reference value: 3-5 mumol/g) in two cases. All patients had muscle symptoms with weakness, asthenia and pains. One showed signs of carnitine depletion in the liver with increased secretion of dicarboxylic acids (C6, C8, C10) in urine and limited ketone body formation during prolonged fasting. Serum carnitine increased slowly after cessation of therapy and reached normal concentrations after 6-12 months. All symptoms caused by carnitine depletion disappeared. This was achieved on a normal diet without carnitine supplementation.

Effects of pivalic acid-containing prodrugs on carnitine homeostasis and on response to fasting in children.

Treatment of 17 children aged 2-9.5 years with a combination of pivmecillinam and pivampicillin (250-500 mumol 24 h-1) for more than 1 year resulted in a reduction of the free carnitine concentration in serum and muscle to less than 10% of the mean reference value. The decline in serum was slow, with an estimated half-life of about 5 months. Spontaneous replenishment occurred at about the same slow rate. Thus, there is no increase in endogenous carnitine synthesis as a response to increased demand of carnitine for detoxification. Supplementation with carnitine during treatment required at least a four-fold molar excess over pivalic acid to achieve and sustain a normal carnitine concentration. The replenishment of carnitine occurred with a half-life of 1.1-3.0 months. From determination of muscle-carnitine concentration in patients treated with pivaloyl-containing antibiotics and in patients with organic aciduris, we conclude that serum carnitine is a good predictor of carnitine stores in the body. Six non-supplemented patients with a serum free-carnitine concentration of 0.7-2.6 mumol l-1 had an inadequate ketone-body increase during a 24-h fast. Vomiting, nausea and tiredness occurred in three cases following the fasting period. After normalization of the serum-carnitine concentration, a normal response to fasting was observed. Thus, in some organic acidurias, for example medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, a low liver concentration of carnitine may be an important contributing factor to hypoglycaemic and Reye-like attacks. We believe that prodrugs which contain pivalic acid should be avoided if acceptable alternatives exist. If used, supplementation with at least four-fold molar excess of carnitine is advisable.