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Metronidazole

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Mark Eggleston
Mark Eggleston*
Affiliation:
Epidemiology Department, Potomac Hospital, Woodbridge, Virginia
*
Epidemiology Department, Potomac Hospital, 2300 Optic Building, Woodbridge, VA 22191
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Extract

Metronidazole was introduced to the market in 1959 as the only effective therapy for Trichomonas vaginalis. A nitroimidazole derivative, its success in the therapy of parasitic infections, including Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia, has been well documented. Metronidazole's activity against anaerobic bacteria was first described in 1962 by Shinn, and by Davies and associates in 1964. In both reports, metronidazole effectively treated patients with Vincent's angina (necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis). Metronidazole's excellent activity against anaerobes has been substantiated by numerous articles. It has the best bactericidal activity of all drugs active against anaerobic bacteria.

Type
Special Sections
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 7 , Issue 10 , October 1986 , pp. 514 - 518
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1986

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