title: Drug treatment of common STDs: Part II. Vaginal infections, pelvic inflammatory disease and genital warts.
abstract: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidelines for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in 1998. Several treatment advances have been made since the previous guidelines were published. Part II of this two-part series on STDs describes recommendations for the treatment of diseases characterized by vaginal discharge, pelvic inflammatory disease, epididymitis, human papillomavirus infection, proctitis, proctocolitis, enteritis and ectoparasitic diseases. Single-dose therapies are recommended for the treatment of several of these diseases. A single 1-g dose of oral azithromycin is as effective as a seven-day course of oral doxycycline, 100 mg twice a day, for the treatment of chlamydial infection. Erythromycin and ofloxacin are alternative agents. Four single-dose therapies are now recommended for the management of uncomplicated gonococcal infections, including 400 mg of cefixime, 500 mg of ciprofloxacin, 125 mg of ceftriaxone or 400 mg of ofloxacin. Advances in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis also have been made. A seven-day course of oral metronidazole is still recommended for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis in pregnant women, but intravaginal clindamycin cream and metronidazole gel are now recommended in nonpregnant women. Single-dose therapy with 150 mg of oral fluconazole is a recommended treatment for vulvovaginal candidiasis. Two new topical treatments, podofilox and imiquimod, are available for patient self-administration to treat human papillomavirus infection. Permethrin cream is now the preferred agent for the treatment of pediculosis pubis and scabies.
authors.affiliation: West Virginia University Hospitals, Morgantown, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Woodward
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000292:Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D014623:Vaginal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents