Hydroxymetronidazole is an active metabolite of the antibiotic metronidazole .1 It is formed from metronidazole primarily by the cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoform CYP2A6.2 Hydroxymetronidazole is active against B. fragilis, B. thetaiotaomicron, B. distasonis, and B. ovatus (MICs = 1, 2, 1, and 2 µg/ml, respectively).1 It has been found in pork and porcine plasma.3
1.Pendland, S.L., Piscitelli, S.C., Schreckenberger, P.C., et al.In vitro activities of metronidazole and its hydroxy metabolite against Bacteroides sppAntimicrob. Agents Chemother.38(9)2106-2110(1994) 2.Pearce, R.E., Cohen-Wolkowiez, M., Sampson, M.R., et al.The role of human cytochrome P450 enzymes in the formation of 2-hydroxymetronidazole: CYP2A6 is the high affinity (low Km) catalystDrug Metab. Dispos.41(9)1686-1694(2013) 3.TÖlgyesi, A., Sharma, V.K., Fekete, S., et al.Development of a rapid method for the determination and confirmation of nitroimidazoles in six matrices by fast liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometryJ. Pharm. Biomed. Anal.64-6540-48(2012)