Mebendazole Compared with Secnidazole in the Treatment of Adult Giardiasis : A Randomised, No-Inferiority, Open Clinical Trial

Abstract EN

To compare the efficacy and safety of mebendazole and secnidazole in the treatment of giardiasis in adult patients, a single-centre, parallel group, open-label, randomized non-inferiority trial was carried out.

One-hundred and 26 participants who had symptomatic Giardia mono-infection took part in the study.

Direct wet mount and/or Ritchie concentration techniques and physical examinations were conducted at the time of enrolment and at the follow-up visit.

The primary outcome measure was parasitological cure, performed at 3, 5, 10 days post-treatment.

Negative faecal specimens for Giardia were ensured by the same parasitological techniques.

At follow up (day 10) the parasitological cure rate for the per protocol populations was 88.7% (55/62) for MBZ and 91.8% (56/61) for SNZ.

For the intention to treat populations the cure rate at the end of treatment was 85.9% (55/64) for MBZ and 90.3% (56/62) for SNZ.

Both analyzes showed there was not significant statistical difference between MBZ and SNZ treatment efficacy.

Both drugs were well tolerated, only mild, transient and self-limited side effects were reported and did not require discontinuation of treatment.

A 3-day course of mebendazole seems to be as efficacious and safe for treatment of giardiasis as a single dose of secnidazole in adults.