Posted on July 13, 2004 at 9:19 a.m.

BIRMINGHAM, AL — The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has received a four-year, $2 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to test the use of the drug tinidazole to treat bacterial vaginosis. Dr. Jane Schwebke, professor of medicine with UAB’s division of infectious diseases, will lead the study.

Bacterial vaginosis is the most common vaginal infection in the United States, accounting for more than 10 million doctor visits each year. Symptoms may include a foul odor and vaginal discharge. Complications associated with the disease are increased risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, post operative infection and other obstetrical and gynecological problems, including increased susceptibility to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

“With metronidazole, the standard treatment for the disease, the cure rate is only about 70 percent and recurring infection is a problem,” Schwebke said. “We’re interested to see if tinidazole, shown to be better tolerated with fewer sides effects, can be given in higher doses to achieve a greater cure rate. Even a small increase in the cure rate for such a prevalent disease, with so many public health implications, could be of great benefit.”

Tinidazole is marketed under the brand name Tindamax by Presutti Laboratories. The FDA recently approved the drug for the treatment of other bacterial infections.

The study will enroll nearly 600 women. Eligible participants must have diagnosed symptomatic bacterial vaginosis but no evidence of an STD. All study-related visits are at no cost to participants and volunteers will be compensated for their time.

In two earlier studies comparing tinidazole to metronidazole, a single dose of tinidazole demonstrated higher cure rates than a single dose of metronidazole. This study will compare the standard seven-day regimen of 500 milligrams of metronidazole, taken twice daily, with two different seven-day dosing regimens of tinidazole — 500 milligrams and 1 gram — taken twice daily."

For more information about the study, call (205) 975-5665 or (205) 996-2780.