Nitrofurantoin Use in Special Populations

Contraindications and Precautions

• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that nitrofurantoin is not used in pediatric patients with suspected or documented urinary tract dilation, particularly in infants under 1 month of age 1
• Nitrofurantoin should not be used for pyelonephritis or perinephric abscess, as it does not achieve adequate tissue concentrations, as suggested by the Infectious Diseases Society of America 2
• For patients with vancomycin-resistant enterococci causing uncomplicated UTIs, the Infectious Diseases Society of America recommends nitrofurantoin 100 mg PO every 6 hours as a treatment option 3
• The European Association of Urology and the Infectious Diseases Society of America suggest that nitrofurantoin is primarily indicated for uncomplicated lower urinary tract infections and should not be used for systemic infections or upper urinary tract infections due to inadequate tissue penetration 4, 5