One-dose therapy of Candida vaginitis. I. Results of an open multicentre trial

90 female patients suffering from Candida vaginitis were included in an open, mycologically controlled study, carried out at three gynaecological clinics, to investigate the efficacy and tolerance of one single vaginal tablet containing 500 mg clotrimazole (Canesten 1). In 40% of the patients the infection was considered to be mild and in 60% severe. In order to confirm the diagnosis and to evaluate the therapeutic effect (before application and 1 as well as 4 weeks after therapy), the following criteria were considered: (1) identification of Candida species on direct microscopic examination (wet film) and also by culture on a Nickerson medium, and (2) influence on the clinical symptoms, such as itching, burning, pathological changes of the vaginal mucosa, thrush. The principle criterion was the cultural mycological finding. In 79 patients (88%) the culture was negative 1 week after therapy and in 81 (90%) 4 weeks after therapy; 9 patients (10%) were treatment failures with positive cultural findings at the last control. The clinical symptoms improved parallel to the mycological findings. At the controls they had disappeared in the majority (up to 90%) of the affected patients. The favourable impression achieved at consideration of the cultural findings could be confirmed at the overall assessment by the clinicians: 88% of the patients were cured 1 week after application and 90% 4 weeks after application. By means of different criteria the state of disease did not have any influence on the therapeutic success. The 500-mg clotrimazole vaginal tablet was very well tolerated by all patients.