Metronidazole prescription.

Metronidazole tablets contain the active ingredient metronidazole, which is a type of medicine called an antibiotic.

Metronidazole is an antibacterial drug prescribed for:
- Amebic dysentery and liver abscess;
- Certain vaginal and urinary tract infections in men and women;
infections of the:
- Skin;
- Lungs;
- Heart;
- Brain;
- Bones and joints;
- Abdomen;
caused by certain bacteria.

Metronidazole is prescribed to treat infections caused by bacteria and other micro-organisms called protozoa.

Metronidazole is an antibiotic effective against anaerobic bacteria and certain parasites. Anaerobic bacteria are single-celled, living organisms that thrive in environments in which there is little oxygen (anaerobic environments) and can cause disease in the abdomen (bacterial peritonitis), liver (liver abscess), and pelvis (abscess of the ovaries and the Fallopian tubes).

Metronidazole is also prescribed to prevent infection following surgery, particularly gynaecological surgery and surgery on the gut, where many anaerobic bacteria may be found. In high doses, metronidazole penetrates the brain and can be prescribed to treat abscesses in the brain.

Metronidazole works by entering bacterial and protozoal cells and interfering with their genetic material (DNA). It damages the DNA and also prevents the bacteria and protozoa from forming new DNA. This ultimately results in metronidazole killing the micro-organisms, which clears up the infection.

Giardia lamblia and ameba are intestinal parasites that can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea in infected individuals. Trichomonas is a vaginal parasite that causes inflammation of the vagina (vaginitis). Metronidazole selectively blocks some of the functions within the bacterial cells and the parasites resulting in their death.

Metronidazole is also prescribed to treat infections with protozoa. These micro-organisms are also anaerobic and include Trichomonas vaginalis (which causes trichomonas infection of the vagina) and other protozoa, such as Entamoeba histolytica (which causes amoebic dysentry) and Gardia lambila (which causes giardiasis).

Metronidazole kills a wide variety of bacteria that are known collectively as anaerobic bacteria. This means that they do not need oxygen to grow and multiply. Anaerobic bacteria can cause infections in areas of the body such as the bones, gut, pelvic cavity and gums. Metronidazole is prescribed to treat these types of infections, as well as leg ulcers and pressure sores that are infected with anaerobic bacteria.

Metronidazole is prescribed for:
- A serious form of pneumonia (necrotising pneumonia);
- Abscess in the pelvic cavity usually a result of an abdominal infection;
- Bacteria infected leg ulcers;
- Bacteria infected pressure sores;
- Bacterial dental infections eg dental abscesses;
- Bacterial infection of the blood (septicaemia or blood poisoning);
- Bacterial infection of the blood following childbirth (puerperal fever/sepsis);
- Bacterial infection of the vagina (bacterial vaginosis);
- Bacterial infections in the abdomen (peritonitis);
- Bacterial infections of bone (osteomyelitis);
- Brain abscesses;
- Inflammation of the connective tissue and muscle around the uterus due to bacterial infection (pelvic cellulitis);
- Painful inflammation and ulcers of the gums (ulcerative gingivitis);
- Parasitic gut infection caused by the protozoa Giardia lamblia (giardiasis);
- Preventing and treating infections with anaerobic bacteria following surgery particularly surgery on the gut or gynaecological surgery;
- Protozoal infection of the intestine (amoebiasis or amoebic dysentry);
- Protozoal infection of the urinary organs or genitals (urogenital trichomoniasis);

Metronidazole tablets are taken by mouth, but metronidazole may also be given by suppository, or via a drip into a vein (intravenous infusion) for more serious infections or when administration by mouth is not possible.

To make sure the micro-organisms causing an infection are susceptible to metronidazole your doctor may take a tissue sample, for example a swab from the infected area.