Ornidazole: a new antiprotozoal compound for treatment of Trichomonas vaginalis infection.

A new anti-protozoal compound, ornidazole, a derivative of nitroimidazole, was given in a single 2 g dose to 20 women with Trichomonas vaginalis infection. All the women were cured, but they suffered some side-effects. Plasma levels of ornidazole reached a peak five to eight times higher than minimum inhibitory concentrations and exceeded this level for at least 36 hours. It is therefore possible that a smaller dose might have had an adequate trichomonicidal effect and fewer side-effects. Further studies are in progress.