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Can I use Cipro to treat a bacterial vaginitis infection?

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Oct 23, 2023.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

Cipro is not typically used to treat Bacterial Vaginitis.
Bacterial Vaginitis is usually treated with metronidazole or clindamycin antibiotic tablets, taken for seven days. If you are unable to take tablets vaginal creams may be prescribed.

Bacterial vaginitis is caused by an overgrowth of bacteria that are normally only present in the vagina in small numbers. When these bacteria are present in large numbers they may cause symptoms such as an abnormal discharge or odour. Some women have no symptoms. Bacterial vaginitis is sometimes called bacterial vaginosis, non-specific vaginosis or Gardnerella vaginitis.

Treatment is particularly important in pregnant women to prevent complications such as pre-term delivery.

For more information see:

https://www.drugs.com/cg/bacterial-vaginosis.html
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Although ciprofloxacin starts working within hours of taking it, you may not notice an improvement in your symptoms for 2 to 3 days. For some infections, such as osteomyelitis (a bone infection), it may take up to a week before you show any improvement. Continue reading

Cipro (ciprofloxacin), a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, is used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections, including:

  • pneumonia and certain lower respiratory tract infections
  • certain urinary tract infections
  • gonorrhea
  • infections of the digestive tract (for example, diverticulitis) - (used in combination with metronidazole)
  • serious skin, bone and joint infections
  • prostate gland infections
  • infectious diarrhea
  • typhoid fever (enteric fever)
  • kidney infections (pyelonephritis)
  • inhalational anthrax (post-exposure)
  • certain types of plague (treatment and prevention).
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There is controversy about whether you should routinely take probiotics with antibiotics and the question cannot be answered with a straight yes or no. Evidence for taking probiotics with antibiotics includes a Cochrane review which reported that children who were given a course of probiotics after antibiotics had less diarrhea. Evidence against taking probiotics with antibiotics includes a 2019 Italian study that reported that the gut microbiome of people given probiotics after antibiotics took six months to return to its normal state compared to only three weeks for those not given any probiotics. More studies are needed before a definite statement can be made. Continue reading

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