INDICATIONS AND USAGE:
Symptomatic Trichomoniasis: Metronidazole is indicated for the treatment of symptomatictrichomoniasis in females and males when the presence of the trichomonad has beenconfirmed by appropriate laboratory procedures (wet smears and/or cultures).
Asymptomatic Trichomoniasis: Metronidazole is indicated in the treatment of asymptomaticfemales when the organism is associated with endocervicitis, cervicitis, or cervical erosion.Since there is evidence that presence of the trichomonad can interfere with accurateassessment of abnormal cytological smears, additional smears should be performed aftereradication of the parasite.
Treatment of Asymptomatic Consorts:
T. vaginalis infection is a venereal disease.Therefore, asymptomatic sexual partners of treated patients should be treated simultaneouslyif the organism has been found to be present, in order to prevent reinfection of the partner.The decision as to whether to treat an asymptomatic male partner who has a negative culture or one for whom no culture has been attempted is an individual one. In making thisdecision, it should be noted that there is evidence that a woman may become reinfected if her consort is not treated. Also, since there can be considerable difficulty in isolating theorganism from the asymptomatic male carrier, negative smears and cultures cannot berelied upon in this regard. In any event, the consort should be treated with metronidazole incases of reinfection.
Amebiasis: Metronidazole is indicated in the treatment of acute intestinal amebiasis (amebicdysentery) and amebic liver abscess. In amebic liver abscess, metronidazole therapy doesnot obviate the need for aspiration or drainage of pus.
Anaerobic Bacterial Infections: Metronidazole is indicated in the treatment of seriousinfections caused by susceptible anaerobic bacteria. Indicated surgical procedures shouldbe performed in conjunction with metronidazole therapy. In a mixed aerobic and anaerobicinfection, antimicrobials appropriate for the treatment of the aerobic infection should beused in addition to metronidazole.
In the treatment of most serious anaerobic infections, the intravenous form of metronidazoleis usually administered initially. This may be followed by oral therapy withmetronidazole at the discretion of the physician.
Intra-Abdominal Infections,
including peritonitis, intra-abdominal abscess, and liverabscess, caused by Bacteroides species, including the B. fragilis group, (B. fragilis,B. distasonis, B. ovatus, B. thetaiotaomicron, B. vulgatus), Clostridium species,Eubacterium species, Peptococcus niger, and Peptostreptococcus species.
Skin and Skin Structure Infections
caused by Bacteroides species including the B. fragilisgroup, Clostridium species, Peptococcus niger, Peptostreptococcus species, andFusobacterium species.
Gynecologic Infections
, including endometritis, endomyometritis, tubo-ovarian abscess,and postsurgical vaginal cuff infection, caused by Bacteroides species including the B.fragilis group, Clostridium species, Peptococcus niger and Peptostreptococcus species.
Bacterial Septicemia
caused by Bacteroides species including the B. fragilis group andClostridium species.
Bone and Joint Infections,
as adjunctive therapy, caused by Bacteroides species, includingthe B. fragilis group.
Central Nervous System (CNS) Infection
, including meningitis and brain abscess, caused by Bacteroides species, including the B. fragilis group.
Lower Respiratory Tract Infections
, including pneumonia, empyema, and lung abscess, caused by Bacteroides species including the B. fragilis group.
Endocarditis
caused by Bacteroides species including the B. fragilis group.