Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0017536 (giardiasis)
 1,714 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The tetracyclines are effective in the treatment of Chlamydia, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and rickettsial infections and also can be used for gonococcal infections in patients unable to tolerate penicillin. These drugs may cause gastrointestinal irritation, diarrhea, phototoxic dermatitis, and vestibular damage, and fatal reactions due to hepatotoxicity have occurred in pregnant women. Chloramphenicol has a broad spectrum of bacteriostatic activity, but its association with suppression of the bone marrow and aplastic anemia has relegated it to a historical role. Erythromycin is the drug of choice for the treatment of infections caused by M. pneumoniae, Legionella species, group A beta-hemolytic streptococci, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. The frequency of serious adverse effects associated with the use of erythromycin is low; dose-related epigastric distress may occur. Clindamycin is bactericidal to most nonenterococcal gram-positive aerobic bacteria and many anaerobic microorganisms. Although historically it was a frequent cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and colitis, clindamycin is considered an excellent alternative to beta-lactam antibiotics for treatment of many staphylococcal infections, and it has therapeutic utility in anaerobic infections and in several protozoan infections in immunosuppressed patients. Metronidazole is efficacious for treating nonpulmonary anaerobic infections, various parasitic infections (trichomoniasis, amebiasis, and giardiasis), nonspecific vaginitis, and Clostridium difficile-mediated colitis. With use of metronidazole, mild side effects such as epigastric discomfort, diarrhea, reversible neutropenia, and allergic-type cutaneous reactions may occur.
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PMID:Tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, clindamycin, and metronidazole. 174 96

Sexual activity is the primary method of transmission for several important parasitic diseases and has resulted in a significant prevalence of enteric parasitic infection among male homosexuals. The majority of parasitic sexually transmitted diseases involve protozoan pathogens; however, nematode and arthropod illnesses are also included in this group. Trichomoniasis, caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, is the most common parasitic STD. Infection with this organism typically results in the signs and symptoms of vaginitis. Trichomoniasis can be diagnosed in the office setting by performing a microscopic evaluation of infected vaginal secretions and can be successfully treated with metronidazole. Both pediculosis pubis, caused by the crab louse Pthirus pubis, and scabies, caused by the itch mite Sarcoptes scabiei, present with severe pruritus. A papular or vesicular rash and linear burrows seen in the finger webs and genital area are characteristic of scabies. Pediculosis pubis is diagnosed by observing adult lice or their nits in areas that bear coarse hair. The diagnosis of scabies is confirmed by scraping suspicious burrows and viewing the mite or its byproducts under the microscope. Lindane, 1% used in treating scabies, is also very effective for treating pediculosis pubis. Synthetic pyrethrins, also applied as a cream or lotion, are less toxic alternatives for the treatment of either condition. Oral-anal and oral-genital sexual practices predispose male homosexuals to infection with many enteric pathogens, including parasitic protozoans and helminths. The most common of these parasitic infections are amebiasis, caused by Entamoeba histolytica, and giardiasis caused by Giardia lamblia. Both entities may cause acute or chronic diarrhea, as well as other abdominal symptoms. Most gay men with amebiasis are asymptomatic, and invasive disease in this group is extremely rare. Both amebiasis and giardiasis can be diagnosed on the basis of microscopic examination of stool specimens, although duodenal aspiration is occasionally necessary to confirm a diagnosis of giardiasis. Multiple treatment regimens exist for amebiasis. Iodoquinol is a good choice for asymptomatic cyst carriers, whereas the combination of metronidazole plus iodoquinol is used for symptomatic patients. Quinacrine and metronidazole are both efficacious in the treatment of giardiasis.
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PMID:Sexually transmitted parasitic diseases. 201 32

Metronidazole, a nitroimidazole derivative, is a unique antimicrobial agent that is active against both bacterial and parasitic organisms, although only the anaerobic members of these groups are susceptible. It has been used for the treatment of trichomoniasis for about 20 years and is also effective against amebiasis and giardiasis. More recently, metronidazole has emerged as a principal agent for the treatment of anaerobic bacterial infections. It is highly effective against all species of anaerobes except certain non-spore-forming gram-positive bacilli and cocci and is the only agent rapidly bactericidal against the Bacteroides fragilis group. Clinical studies have proved its efficacy in prophylaxis for elective colorectal surgical procedures and in the treatment of deep abdominal sepsis (usually in combination with another agent, such as an aminoglycoside). Metronidazole is the treatment of choice for nonspecific vaginitis that seems to be a mixed infection due to anaerobes and Gardnerella vaginalis. Adequate concentrations in the blood are produced after both oral and intravenous administration, and the side effects are infrequent and minimal.
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PMID:Metronidazole. 660 Aug 4

Metronidazole is currently approved for use against Trichomonas infection and amebiasis. It is also effective against giardiasis, "nonspecific vaginitis," and anaerobic infections and bactericidal against almost all obligately anaerobic organisms; Actinomyces, Arachnia, and Propionibacterium are exceptions. Metronidazole diffuses well into all tissues and penetrates the central nervous system well. It normally has only a relatively minor impact on the colonic flora. The drug is well tolerated. Adverse reactions include reversible neutropenia, peripheral neuropathy, and disulfiram-like reaction when taken with alcohol. Of more concern are its mutagenicity and carcinogenicity in some, but not all, animals. These are considered low risks, and follow-up studies of patients treated to date do not reveal an increased incidence of cancer, but physicians and patients must decide whether the benefit from therapy outweighs the potential risk. Metronidazole should only be used for approved indications, except in the research setting, and should not be used prophylactically, although it is effective.
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PMID:Metronidazole. 743 93