Econazole-polycarbophil, a new delivery system for topical therapy: microbiological and clinical results on vaginal candidiasis

J Chemother. 2008 Jun;20(3):336-40. doi: 10.1179/joc.2008.20.3.336.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to demonstrate that the addition of a bioadhesive polymer to econazole, which increases the duration of the active drug at the site of infection, leads to a greater frequency of negative culture after treatment and probably reduces the recurrence rate of vaginal candidiasis.180 women with vaginal candidiasis were treated with 150 mg vaginal ovules econazole nitrate with (group A) or without (group B) polycarbophil. After 3 days of treatment the negative culture of Candida albicans reached 98.6% in group A and 84.8% in B group, while the overall persistence (C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, and C. parapsilosis) was 5.6% and 30%, respectively. During a 60-day follow-up, only one case out of 85 (1.2%) in group A reported recurrence while in group B there were 6 out of 63 (9.5%) recurrences. We conclude that, since the women were treated with the same amount of econazole, the better clinical and microbiological results can be attributed to polycarbophil, as confirmed by a significant reduction of recurrences.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Acrylic Resins / administration & dosage*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antifungal Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Candida albicans / drug effects*
  • Candida albicans / isolation & purification
  • Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / drug therapy*
  • Drug Carriers / administration & dosage*
  • Econazole / administration & dosage*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Acrylic Resins
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Drug Carriers
  • Econazole
  • calcium polycarbophil