Giardiasis: Report of a Case Refractory to Treatment

Abstract

Giardiasis, an intestinal infection caused by Giardia duodenalis, remains a significant global health concern. Although standard treatments such as metronidazole are typically effective, there are increasing reports of treatment resistance, highlighting the need for alternative therapeutic strategies for which established guidelines do not exist. This case report illustrates the challenges in diagnosing and managing treatment-refractory giardiasis. A 32-year-old male presented with chronic symptoms of watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, and significant weight loss, despite multiple rounds of standard therapies, including metronidazole and albendazole. The persistent presence of Giardia lamblia in stool samples despite appropriate treatments, underscores the necessity for clinicians to recognize treatment failures and explore alternative strategies in the absence of standard protocols. This instance, prolonged combination therapy with metronidazole and albendazole proved effective after previous treatment failures, resulting in symptom resolution and negative stool tests. Clinicians should consider treatment-refractory giardiasis as a differential diagnosis in patients with chronic gastrointestinal complaints and a history of giardiasis treatment, enabling earlier diagnosis and intervention. This case emphasizes the need for ongoing monitoring of treatment-refractory giardiasis and calls for further study of resistant strains. It also provides an effective approach for managing cases of treatment-resistant giardiasis.