Interventions for treating trichomoniasis in women.
BACKGROUND
Around 120 million women worldwide suffer from Trichomonas vaginalis vaginitis every year. The infection is sexually transmitted and is believed to facilitate HIV transmission.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of various treatment strategies for trichomoniasis in women.


METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, and EMBASE. Trials were also identified from reference lists of reviews, through pharmaceutical companies, and by informal discovery. Only published data were used in this review. Date of the most recent search: November, 2002.


METHODS
Randomised or quasi-randomised trials of different treatment strategies in women with trichomoniasis. Different antitrichomonal drugs or doses were eligible, as were comparisons of treatment with no treatment or placebo.


METHODS
Trial quality was assessed and data extracted by two reviewers independently using standard criteria.


RESULTS
Fifty-four trials were included. Nitroimidazole drugs seem to be effective in achieving parasitological cure in short term follow up. Partner treatment can be effective in decreasing longer term reinfection rates.


CONCLUSIONS
Parasitological cure can be achieved by single oral dose of nitroimidazole. Further research should focus on developing effective partner treatment strategies to prevent reinfections and reduce trichomoniasis prevalence.
Forna
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Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, 69 Butler Street, S.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30303, USA. fatuforna@hotmail.com
Gülmezoglu
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AM
D000994:Antitrichomonal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009593:Nitroimidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014247:Trichomonas Vaginitis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000994:Antitrichomonal Agents; D009593:Nitroimidazoles; D008795:Metronidazole