Metronidazole: A Nitroimidazole Antibiotic against Protozoans and Anaerobic Bacteria
2-Methyl-5-nitroimidazole-1-ethanol (metronidazole) is a synthetic nitroimidazole antibiotic such as azomycin [
N0891] and dimetridazole [
D1564]. Metronidazole has a limited spectrum of activity that encompasses various protozoans and most Gram-negative and Gram-positive anaerobic bacteria. Metronidazole is bactericidal through toxic metabolites (hydroxyl radicals) which cause bacterial DNA strand breakage. Metronidazole is active against
Helicobacter pylori, however resistance to metronidazole is high. Thus, the combination of lansoprazole [
L0233] or omeprazole [
O0359] (as a proton pump inhibitor), amoxicillin [
A2099] and metronidazole is used for the eradication of
Helicobacter pylori.