Metronidazole

Brand Names: Flagyl, Flagystatin, Likmez, Metrocream, Metrogel, Metrolotion, Nidagel, Noritate, Nuvessa, Pylera, Rosadan, Vandazole

Access comprehensive pharmacological analysis, clinical applications, and therapeutic considerations.

Background: Metronidazole is a commonly used antibiotic, belonging to the nitroimidazole class of antibiotics. It is frequently used to treat gastrointestinal infections as well as trichomoniasis and giardiasis, and amebiasis which are parasitic infections. Metronidazole has been used as an antibiotic for several decades, with added antiparasitic properties that set it apart from many other antibacterial drugs, allowing it to treat a wide variety of infections. It is available in capsule form, tablet form, and topical form, and suppository preparations for the treatment of various infections.

Indication: Metronidazole is indicated for the treatment of confirmed trichomoniasis caused by Trichomonas vaginalis (except for in the first trimester of pregnancy) and the patient's sexual partners, bacterial vaginosis, certain types of amebiasis, and various anaerobic infections. The above anaerobic infections may occur on the skin and skin structures, the abdomen, the heart, reproductive organs, central nervous system, and the respiratory system. Some may also be present in the bloodstream in cases of septicemia. Common infections treated by metronidazole are Bacteroides species infections, Clostridium infections, and Fusobacterium infections, as well as Peptococcus and Peptostreptococcus infections. Topical formulations of metronidazole are indicated for the treatment of inflammatory lesions of rosacea.

It is also used off-label in the treatment of Crohn's disease, as a prophylactic agent after surgery, and in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. It has also been studied in the prevention of preterm births and to treat periodontal disease.

Associated Conditions: Abscess Brain, Abscess, Intra-Abdominal, Anaerobic Bacterial Infection, Bacterial Endocarditis, Bacterial Peritonitis, Bacterial Septicemia, Bacterial Vaginosis (BV), Balantidiasis, Bone and Joint Infections, Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections, Empyema, Endometritis, Endomyometritis, Facial Rosacea, Giardiasis, Gynecological Infection, Helicobacter Pylori Infection, Inflammatory Papule, Inflammatory pustules, Liver Abscess, Amebic, Lower respiratory tract infection bacterial, Lung Abscess, Meningitis, Mixed Vaginal Infections, Mixed Vaginal Infections caused by Trichomonas Vaginalis, candida albicans, Periodontitis, Pneumonia, Postoperative Infections, Pouchitis, Skin and skin structure infections, Tetanus, Trichomonas Vaginitis, Tubo-ovarian abscess, Vaginal Candidiasis, Vaginitis Trichomonal, Vulvovaginitis, Acute Intestinal amebiasis, Asymptomatic Trichomoniasis, Entamoeba histolytica, Hepatic abscess, Intra-abdominal bacterial infections, Post-surgical vaginal cuff infection, Refractory Sinusitis, Symptomatic Trichomoniasis