Flagyl, or metronidazole, works by disrupting DNA synthesis in susceptible bacteria. It enters bacterial cells and interacts with DNA, preventing its replication and repair. This leads to cell death.
Targeting Anaerobic Bacteria and Protozoa
Flagyl primarily targets anaerobic bacteria–those that thrive without oxygen. Examples include Bacteroides species, Clostridium species, and Fusobacterium species. It also effectively treats certain protozoa, like Trichomonas vaginalis, the cause of trichomoniasis. Importantly, Flagyl is Not effective against chlamydia, which is a different type of bacteria.
Why Flagyl Doesn’t Treat Chlamydia
Chlamydia trachomatis, the bacterium causing chlamydia, is an obligate intracellular organism and has different mechanisms for DNA replication and repair. Flagyl’s mechanism of action doesn’t affect chlamydia.
