Metronidazole

Antibiotic Class:

Nitroimidazole

Antimicrobial Spectrum:

Anaerobic Gram-negative bacilli:  Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides species, Fusobacterium spp., Porphyromonas spp., Prevotella spp.

Anaerobic Gram-positive bacilli:  Clostridium spp.

Anaerobic cocci:  Peptostreptococcus species, Veillonella species

Protozoa:  Blastocystis hominis, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Trichomonas vaginalis

Mechanism of Action:

Exerts action on susceptible organisms in four successive stages: entry of the drug into the organism, its reductive activation, interaction of the reduced intermediate products with intracellular targets, and breakdown of the toxic intermediate products.

Pharmacodynamics:

Metronidazole produces concentration-dependent killing

Pharmacokinetics:

Half-life: 8h (mean); Volume of distribution: 0.51 to 1.1L/kg (adults); Renal clearance: 8-12ml/min; Bioavailability: Approximately 100% PO

Adverse Effects:

Gastrointestinal: abdominal discomfort, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, metallic taste, glossitis, hepatitis (rare), pancreatitis (rare)

Neurologic:  peripheral neuropathy, numbness, paraesthesia, ataxia, confusion, encephalopathy, tremors, seizures

Hematologic:  reversible leukopenia, thrombocytopenia

Hypersensitivity:  maculopapular rashes, urticaria, pruritus, bronchospasm, serum sickness

Other: Metallic taste 

Dosage:

IV: 500mg/100ml solution

PO: 250mg, 500mg tablets, 750mg extended release tablet

Topical: 1% cream, 0.75% gel

Adult dose:

Amebiasis – Entamoeba histolytica treatment:  750mg q8h x 10 days

Amebiasis - Liver abscess: 500-750mg q8h x 10 days

Anaerobic bacterial life-threatening infections: 15 mg/kg (1g for most adults), followed 7.5 mg/kg q6h for 14-21 days

Anaerobic bacterial infection (mild/moderate): 500 mg IV q6-8h x 7-10 days

Bacterial vaginosis (non-pregnant women): 500 mg PO q12h x 7 days, or 750mg PO q24h (extended-release tablet) x 7 days; alternative: 2g PO x 1 dose

Bacterial vaginosis (pregnant women): 250mg q8h x 7 days

Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea and colitis:  750mg to 2g per day PO divided q6-q8h for 7-14 days

Giardiasis: 250mg PO q8h x 5-7 days or 2g q24h x 3 days

Nongonococcal urethritis:  2g PO x 1 dose + 7 days erythromycin base or erythromycin ethylsuccinate

Perioperative prophylaxis:  15 mg/kg IV; perioperative re-dosing of 7.5 mg/kg should occur q6h

Prophylaxis in sexual assault victims:  2g PO x 1 dose + IM ceftriaxone + azithromycin

Trichomoniasis: 250mg PO q8h or 500 mg PO q12h x 7 days or 2g PO x 1 dose

Pediatric dose:

Anaerobic bacterial infection (loading dose): 15 mg/kg IV infused over 60 minutes

Anaerobic bacterial infection (maintenance – pre-term infants): 7.5 mg/kg IV q24h, starting 48hrs after initial dose

Anaerobic bacterial infection (maintenance-term infants): (1-4 weeks of age) 7.5 mg/kg IV q12 h starting 24hrs after initial dose

Anaerobic bacterial infection (infants and children): maintenance, 30 mg/kg/day IV divided q6h, maximum 4 g/day

Amoebic dysentery: 35-50 mg/kg/day PO divided q8h x 10 days; maximum 750mg per dose

Amoebic liver abscess: 50 mg/kg/day PO divided q8h x 7 days; maximum 750mg per dose

Giardiasis: 15 mg/kg/day divided q8h x 7-10 days; maximum 250mg per dose

Pseudomembranous colitis: 30 mg/kg/day PO divided q6h x 7-10 days

Trichomoniasis: 15 mg/kg/day PO divided q8h x 7 days

Disease state based dosing:

Renal failure:  Inconclusive.  Some tertiary references recommend dose reductions (e.g. 500 mg

                        q12h) in patients with CrCl < 10 mL/min however this is debatable

Hepatic failure:  Dose reduction by 50% to avoid drug accumulation and possible toxicity.

Contraindications/Warnings/Precautions:

Contraindications:  First trimester of pregnancy, Hypersensitivity to metronidazole, or other nitroimidazole derivatives

Precautions: 

Drug Interactions:

Warfarin: increased risk of bleeding

Alcohol: disulfiram-like effect (violent retching, vomiting)

Disulfiram: violent retching, vomiting, may be severe (psychosis, confusion, encephalopathy

Lithium: increased serum lithium levels (levels should be monitored when coadministered)

Phenobarbitol: decreased metronidazole serum concentrations

Rifampin: decreased metronidazole serum concentrations

Tacrolimus: increased tacrolimus serum concentrations (monitor serum tactrolimus level)

Carbamazepine: increased carbamazepine serum concentrations (monitor serum carbamazepine level)

Cyclosporine: increased cyclosporine serum concentrations (monitor serum cyclosporine level)

Phenytoin: increased phenytoin serum concentrations (monitor serum phenytoin level)

Cimetidine: increased metronidazole serum concentrations

Pregnancy:

Category B: No evidence of risk in humans but studies inadequate.

Monitoring Requirements:

Therapeutic:  WBC count, culture and sensitivities, serum levels, signs and symptoms of infection

Toxic:  Periodic CBC, urinalysis, BUN, SCr, AST and ALT, diarrhea,

Brand names/Manufacturer:

Available by many names and manufacturers (click here)