title: Econazole-polycarbophil, a new delivery system for topical therapy: microbiological and clinical results on vaginal candidiasis.
abstract: The aim of this study was to demonstrate that the addition of a bioadhesive polymer to econazole, which increases the duration of the active drug at the site of infection, leads to a greater frequency of negative culture after treatment and probably reduces the recurrence rate of vaginal candidiasis.180 women with vaginal candidiasis were treated with 150 mg vaginal ovules econazole nitrate with (group A) or without (group B) polycarbophil. After 3 days of treatment the negative culture of Candida albicans reached 98.6% in group A and 84.8% in B group, while the overall persistence (C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, and C. parapsilosis) was 5.6% and 30%, respectively. During a 60-day follow-up, only one case out of 85 (1.2%) in group A reported recurrence while in group B there were 6 out of 63 (9.5%) recurrences. We conclude that, since the women were treated with the same amount of econazole, the better clinical and microbiological results can be attributed to polycarbophil, as confirmed by a significant reduction of recurrences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Gynecological Sciences, University of Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Furneri
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Corsello
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Masellis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvatori
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cammarata
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Roccasalva
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mangiafico
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tempera
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004464:Econazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004464:Econazole; C030312:calcium polycarbophil