title: Management of trichomonas vaginalis in women with suspected metronidazole hypersensitivity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Standard treatment for Trichomonas vaginalis is metronidazole or tinidazole. Hypersensitivity to these drugs has been documented but is poorly understood. Desensitization is an option described in limited reports of women with hypersensitivity to nitroimidazoles. The purpose of this analysis is to improve documentation of management for trichomonas infections among women with metronidazole hypersensitivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinicians who consulted Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concerning patients with suspected hypersensitivity to metronidazole were provided with treatment options and asked to report outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From September 2003-September 2006, complete information was obtained for 59 women. The most common reactions were urticaria (47%) and facial edema (11%). Fifteen of these women (25.4%) were treated with metronidazole desensitization and all had eradication of their infection. Seventeen women (28.8%) were treated with alternative intravaginal drugs, which were less successful; 5 of 17 infections (29.4%) were eradicated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Metronidazole desensitization was effective in the management of women with nitroimidazole hypersensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Division of STD Prevention, Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA. dhelms@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Donna J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Helms
authors.forename: Debra J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Mosure
authors.forename: W Evan
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Secor
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Workowski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D014247:Trichomonas Vaginitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D008795:Metronidazole