New Drug Shows Promise in Fight Against Neglected STI: Trichomoniasis
New Orleans, LA – A new study led by researchers at TulaneUniversity is investigating the effectiveness of a new drug, secnidazole, in treating trichomoniasis, a common but often overlooked sexually transmitted infection (STI).The study, funded by a $9.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), aims to find a more effective treatment and raise awareness aboutthis widespread yet often undiagnosed infection.
Trichomoniasis, caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis, affects millions worldwide. Despite being the most common curable STI, it remains under the radar due to a lack ofawareness and often asymptomatic nature. The current standard treatment, metronidazole, has a failure rate of 10%, leaving many individuals still infected. This is particularly concerning as trichomoniasis significantly increases susceptibility to HIV.
More than 10% of people still have the disease after receiving the recommended treatment. That’s simply unacceptable, said Dr. Patty Kissinger, professor of epidemiology at Tulane University’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. We need better options. The problem is that trichomoniasis is the most commoncurable STI, but it often has no symptoms, and the CDC doesn’t recommend screening for asymptomatic individuals, so the public is unaware.
The five-year, multi-center study will involve a cohort of 1,200 individuals in Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida. Researchers will compare the efficacyof secnidazole, a recently approved drug, with metronidazole. The study is unique in its inclusion of men, a demographic often overlooked in trichomoniasis research. It is also the first study to directly compare secnidazole and metronidazole.
Trichomoniasis affects millions of people, yetit remains a highly neglected STI, said Kissinger. We hope this study will lead to better treatment options and raise awareness, which we hope will encourage more screening.
The high failure rate of metronidazole remains a mystery. Previous NIH research found that metronidazole is most effective when administered multiple times. However, the highfailure rate could be due to patients missing doses or engaging in sexual activity with partners before completing treatment, leading to reinfection.
Secnidazole, on the other hand, requires only a single dose. However, concerns remain about the cost of this new drug. Trichomoniasis affects over 3 million people inthe United States, with a particularly high prevalence in the deep South, the region where this study is taking place.
We need better treatment options for this STI, said Kissinger. If this study is successful, we can get it under control and encourage more screening, which could lead to lower rates of perinatalmorbidity and potentially even lower rates of HIV infection in some people.
This study is the third in a series of NIH-funded research projects aimed at improving treatment for trichomoniasis. It is the first in the series to include men and the first to compare secnidazole and metronidazole. The study is fundedby the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
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