Nitrofurantoin Pulmonary Toxicity: Neglected Threat

Title: Nitrofurantoin Pulmonary Toxicity: Neglected Threat

Volume: 5 Issue: 2

Author(s): Emilia Hardak, Gidon Berger, Norberto Krivoy, Anna Solomonov and Mordechai Yigla

Affiliation:

Keywords: Lung, nitrofurantoin, toxicity

Abstract: Nitrofurantoin lung toxicity was diagnosed among ten patients receiving 50 mg/day to prevent recurrent urinary tract infection. In six patients a symptomatic period of 3-36 months preceded the diagnosis. All but one patient, with irreversible lung injury at presentation recovered completely, five after drug discontinuation and four after steroids therapy. Large amount of data regarding unexpected, sometimes severe pulmonary toxicity during nitrofurantoin therapy should maintain a high index of suspicion for the drug usage among patients with non-resolving pulmonary symptoms. Alternatively, the use of other antimicrobial agents with a better risk-to-benefit ratio should be considered.

Cite this article as:

Hardak Emilia, Berger Gidon, Krivoy Norberto, Solomonov Anna and Yigla Mordechai, Nitrofurantoin Pulmonary Toxicity: Neglected Threat, Current Drug Safety 2010; 5 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157488610790936169