title: Mebendazole compared with secnidazole in the treatment of adult giardiasis: a randomised, no-inferiority, open clinical trial.
abstract: To compare the efficacy and safety of mebendazole and secnidazole in the treatment of giardiasis in adult patients, a single-centre, parallel group, open-label, randomized non-inferiority trial was carried out. One-hundred and 26 participants who had symptomatic Giardia mono-infection took part in the study. Direct wet mount and/or Ritchie concentration techniques and physical examinations were conducted at the time of enrolment and at the follow-up visit. The primary outcome measure was parasitological cure, performed at 3, 5, 10 days post-treatment. Negative faecal specimens for Giardia were ensured by the same parasitological techniques. At follow up (day 10) the parasitological cure rate for the per protocol populations was 88.7% (55/62) for MBZ and 91.8% (56/61) for SNZ. For the intention to treat populations the cure rate at the end of treatment was 85.9% (55/64) for MBZ and 90.3% (56/62) for SNZ. Both analyzes showed there was not significant statistical difference between MBZ and SNZ treatment efficacy. Both drugs were well tolerated, only mild, transient and self-limited side effects were reported and did not require discontinuation of treatment. A 3-day course of mebendazole seems to be as efficacious and safe for treatment of giardiasis as a single dose of secnidazole in adults.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine "Manuel Fajardo", 10400 Havana City, Cuba.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Almirall
authors.forename: Angel A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Escobedo
authors.forename: Idalia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ayala
authors.forename: Maydel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alfonso
authors.forename: Yohana
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Salazar
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cañete
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cimerman
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galloso
authors.forename: Ilmaems
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Olivero
authors.forename: Maytee
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robaina
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tornés