A randomized double-blind trial of tinidazole treatment of the sexual partners of females with bacterial vaginosis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether a single oral 2-g dose of tinidazole for women with clinically diagnosed bacterial vaginosis and their partners increases the cure rates as compared with the same treatment for the female patients alone.


METHODS
During a 15-month period, 250 women aged 17-40 years who attended a gynecologic outpatient clinic for abnormal vaginal discharge and/or pruritus vulvae were randomized into two groups. They received a single oral dose of 2 g tinidazole while their partners received either 2 g tinidazole or placebo. Symptomatic improvement and clinical cure rates were assessed at 1 and 4 weeks after treatment.


RESULTS
There were no statistical differences (P > .05) in symptomatic improvement, clinical cure rates, or culture results between the groups of women whose partners were treated with either tinidazole or placebo. However, male consorts of women in the tinidazole group experienced side effects more often than those in the placebo group (P = .0006).


CONCLUSIONS
Routine treatment is not recommended for male partners of women with bacterial vaginosis.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand.
T
T
Vutyavanich
P
P
Pongsuthirak
P
P
Vannareumol
R A
RA
Ruangsri
P
P
Luangsook
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013997:Time Factors; D014011:Tinidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy*
D014011:Tinidazole