Metronidazole (CAS: 443-48-1)

Metronidazole (AAN, BAN, INN, USAN)  (Flagyl and others) is a nitroimidazole antibiotic

medication used particularly for anaerobicbacteria and protozoa. Metronidazole is an antibacterial

against anaerobic organisms, amoebicide and antiprotozoal. It is the drug of choice for first episodes

of mild-to-moderate Clostridium difficile infection.

It is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines, a list of the most important

medication needed in a basic health system.

Medical uses

Metronidazole is primarily used to treat: bacterial vaginosis, pelvic inflammatory disease (along with

other antibacterials like ceftriaxone), pseudomembranous colitis, aspiration pneumonia, rosacea (topical),

fungating wounds (topical), intra-abdominal infections, lung abscess, gingivitis, amoebiasis, giardiasis,

trichomoniasis, and infections caused by susceptible anaerobic organisms such as Bacteroides fragilis,

spp, Fusobacterium spp, Clostridium spp, Peptostreptococcus spp and Prevotella spp. It is also often

used to eradicate Helicobacter pylori along with other medicine and to prevent infection in people

recovering from surgery.