A randomized trial of intravaginal nonoxynol 9 versus oral metronidazole in the treatment of vaginal trichomoniasis.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to investigate the efficacy of nonoxynol 9 suppositories in the treatment of vaginal trichomoniasis.


METHODS
In this prospective comparison trial 46 women with documented motile trichomonads found on a wet preparation were randomly assigned to one of two treatment arms: (1) a single oral dose of 2 g metronidazole and (2) a single 150-mg nonoxynol 9 suppository placed intravaginally for 3 consecutive nights. Cure was determined by a repeated wet preparation examination. After its first year, the study was terminated because of the poor efficacy of the nonoxynol 9 suppositories.


RESULTS
Results were available for 33 patients. Three of 17 patients treated with nonoxynol 9 had negative wet preparation results at retest (17.6% cure rate). All 16 patients treated with metronidazole had negative wet preparation results (100% cure rate). All women with nonoxynol 9 failures who were evaluated after treatment with 2 g metronidazole had negative wet preparation results.


CONCLUSIONS
Intravaginal nonoxynol 9 at the tested dose and by the tested method of delivery was not an effective cure for vaginal trichomoniasis.
Antonelli
N M
NM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Coastal Area Health Education Center, Wilmington, NC, USA.
Diehl
S J
SJ
Wright
J W
JW
D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000994:Antitrichomonal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017137:Nonoxynol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014247:Trichomonas Vaginitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000994:Antitrichomonal Agents; D008795:Metronidazole; D017137:Nonoxynol