Doses are oral and for adults unless otherwise stated. Visit the Health Products Regulatory Board Irish Medicines Formulary for drug SPCs, dosage, contraindications, interactions, or IMF/BNF/BNFC/MIMS. See guidance on dosing in children for quick reference dosage/weight guide.
Statins can interact with some antibiotics and increase the risk of rhabdomyolysis. Amiodarone and drugs which prolong the QT interval can interact with many antibiotics. Many antibiotics increase the risk of bleeding with anticoagulants. Please refer to our Drug Interactions Table for further information.
Comments from Expert Advisory Committee
- Candida can lead to genital symptoms in men and women. Asymptomatic colonisation is common. The majority of cases are caused by Candida albicans
- In women it can lead to vulvitis, vaginitis or vulvovaginitis. Symptoms include vulval discomfort and itch and vaginal discharge which can be white, thick and curdy in nature
- In men it can present with a balanitis with an associated itch.
- The diagnosis can be made clinically on the basis of the description and appearance of the vulva, vaginal discharge or glans penis in men. The diagnosis of vaginal candidiasis can be confirmed on high vaginal swab.
- In women, consider sexually transmitted causes of vaginal discharge on the basis of sexual history and consider testing for chlamydia and gonorrhoea.
- The definition of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis is accepted as four or more documented episodes per year.
Treatment Options
Patients should be advised to avoid tight fitting clothing and the use of soaps and shower gels. The use of emollient creams and 1% hydrocortisone may ease symptoms of vulvitis and balanitis. Topical and oral treatments have similar efficacy. Oral azoles should be avoided in pregnancy.
There are many treatment options available, the table below is not exhaustive.
|
Treatment |
Conditions |
| Vulvovaginal candidiasis |
Econazole (gyno-prevaryl)
pessary 150mg stat PV |
Oral and topical treatments have
equal efficacy
Oral treatment is more expensive
and Fluconazole (and all oral azoles)
should be avoided in pregnancy
|
|
Fluconazole 150mg PO stat
|
|
Recurrent vulvovaginal
candidiasis
|
Fluconazole 150mg days 1, 4
and 7 then weekly x 6 months |
|
|
Candida balanitis
|
Clotrimazole 1% cream twice
daily topically x 5-7 days |
Oral treatment rarely indicated |
Oral and topical treatments have equal efficacy. Oral treatment is more expensive and Fluconazole (and all oral azoles) should be avoided in pregnancy
Useful resources
Patient Information
Patient information on STIs and genital conditions is available at the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy website
Reviewed October 2018
