Abstract

METRONIDAZOLE: DRUG OF CHOICE FOR ANAEROBIC INFECTIONS - AN OVERVIEW

Virendra Kushwaha, Pooja Agrawal*, Vipul Shukla and Brijesh Pathak

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Abstract

Metronidazole is active against a wide variety of anaerobic bacteria and protozoal infection such as Amoebiasis, Giardiasis, T. Vaginalis etc. It manifests antibacterial activity against all anaerobic cocci, anaerobic gram-negative bacilli and microaerophilic bacteria such as Helicobacter and Campylobacter spp. It is available as oral, intravenous, vaginal, and topical formulations. Metronidazole is contraindicated in patients with documented hypersensitivity to the drug or its components, and it should be avoided in first-trimester pregnancy. Reports of Disulfiram-like reactions in patients drinking alcohol while administered systemic or vaginal Metronidazole. There should be judicious prescribing of Metronidazole by providers only for known indications and high clinical suspicion for needing treatment of anaerobic bacterial infections, protozoal infections, and microaerophilic bacterial infections to avoid the development of resistance against Metronidazole.

Keywords: Metronidazole, Anaerobic infections, Protozoal infections.