Treatment of the gardnerella vaginalis syndrome: A controlled, double-blind study comparing pivampicillin and metronidazole

Abstract

A double-blind, randomized, therapeutic study was carried out in 289 patients with vaginal discharge and growth of Gardnerella vaginalis (GV) and no growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis or Candida. Treatment consisted of either pivampicillin (Pondocillin), 700 mg twice daily for seven days, or metronidazole, 500 mg twice daily for seven days. The effect was evaluated on the basis of the patient's statement and on the result of culture for GV immediately after end of treatment. Evaluated from the culture results metronidazole was significantly more effective than pivampicillin in eradicating GV. The efficacy of the two medications was 69% and 54% respectively. The evaluations by the patients in the two groups, on the other hand, did not differ significantly, although there was a tendency to consider metronidazole as the most effective. Metronidazole must be considered the most potent drug today, and we recommend it as the medication of choice, provided that the diagnosis is confirmed by the clinical picture and microscopy and not only by culture. © 1985 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.