Miconazole (R 14 889) in the treatment of vaginal candidosis. A multicentric trial in gynecological practice

Abstract

The therapeutic value of miconazole 2% cream applied vaginally for 1–4 weeks (median 2 weeks) could be evaluated in 141 of the 164 patients diagnosed as suffering from vaginal candidosis. These patients all returned within 4 weeks for a control examination. Of the 45 patients in whom the presence of yeasts was established by culture on Nickerson's medium, samples were taken at the control examination for culture on Nickerson's medium from 42 patients and for microscopic examination from 3 patients. Forty-two and 2 patients respectively were negative for yeasts. Of the 96 patients in whom the presence of yeasts was established by microscopic examination, samples were taken at the control from 6 patients for microscopic examination, from 25 for culture on Nickerson's medium and from 65 for both culture and microscopic examination. The results were negative in 6, 24 and 54 patients respectively. In the latter group, 9 patients were rated as positive on both the culture and microscopic examination, whilst 2 were positive on culture only. In addition to the vaginal application of miconazole, 32 patients applied miconazole powder to the external genitalia and groin, and 26 patients various antipruritic creams to the vulvar area. Of the 128 mycologically negative patients, 120 reported complete and rapid relief of pruritus and 6 a distinct improvement. Miconazole powder had additionally been used in 26 of these cases, and antipruritic cream in 25 cases. Fifty-one of the 54 pregnant patients, all of the diabetic patients and 2 of the 3 pregnant and diabetic patients were negative at control. The efficacy of treatment in this group of 71 patients with predisposing factors did therefore not significantly differ from the other 80 patients (p = 0.40, Chi Square Test). Side-effects or local irritation did not occur.