Furazolidone is a nitrofuran antiprotozoal agent and antibacterial agent.1,2,3 It is active against G. lamblia trophozoites (IC50 = 2.9 ?M), as well as metronidazole-susceptible and -resistant T. vaginalis clinical isolates with minimum lethal concentration (MLC) values of less than 3.1 ?g/ml.1,2 Furazolidone is also active against clinical isolates of Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli, and V. parahaemolyticus (MICs = ≤0.5-4 ?g/ml).3 In vivo, furazolidone (50 mg/kg per day) reduces splenic and hepatic parasite burden in a golden hamster model of L. chagasi infection.4 Formulations containing furazolidone have been used in the treatment of bacterial and protozoal infections.
1.Campanati, L., and Monteiro-Leal, L.H.The effects of the antiprotozoal drugs metronidazole and furazolidone on trophozoites of Giardia lamblia (P1 strain)Parasitol Res.88(1)80-85(2002) 2.Narcisi, E.M., and Secor, W.E.In vitro effect of tinidazole and furazolidone on metronidazole-resistant Trichomonas vaginalisAntimicrob. Agents and Chemother.40(5)1121-1125(1996) 3.Carlson, J.R., Thornton, S.A., Dupont, H.L., et al.Comparative in vitro activities of ten antimicrobial agents against bacterial enteropathogensAntimicrob. Agents Chemother.24(4)509-513(1983) 4.Tempone, A.G., Mortara, R.A., de Andrade, H.F., Jr., et al.Therapeutic evaluation of free and liposome-loaded furazolidone in experimental visceral leishmaniasisInt. J. Antimicrob. Agents36(2)159-163(2010)