Prospective, randomized, comparative study of the efficacy, safety and cost of cefuroxime compared with cephradine in the treatment of acute pyelonephritis during pregnancy

This is a critical abstract of an economic evaluation that meets the criteria for inclusion on NHS EED. Each abstract contains a brief summary of the methods, the results and conclusions followed by a detailed critical assessment on the reliability of the study and the conclusions drawn. The authors concluded that cefuroxime proved to be more effective and better tolerated than cephradine. Although drug acquisition costs were higher, total per patient costs were similar in the study groups, due to the lower hospitalisation expenses. As a result, cefuroxime can be considered as the first choice option for the treatment of acute pyelonephrytis in pregnant women.