A 27-year-old woman presents to the gynecology clinic with complaints of abnormal vaginal discharge for the past two weeks. She describes the discharge as thin, grayish-white, and associated with a strong “fishy” odor, particularly noticeable after sexual intercourse. She denies itching, burning, or pain during urination. She also reports that she is sexually active with one partner and has not used any new vaginal products or douches. Her menstrual cycles are regular, and she denies systemic symptoms such as fever or chills. On physical examination, the external genitalia appear normal, without erythema or swelling. A speculum examination reveals a thin, homogenous gray-white discharge coating the vaginal walls. There is no evidence of vulvar irritation or lesions. A whiff test performed during the examination is positive, releasing a fishy odor upon the addition of potassium hydroxide (KOH) to the vaginal secretions. The vaginal pH is measured and found to be 5.5. Microscopy of a wet mount of the vaginal secretions reveals clue cells. You decide to treat this disorder with metronidazole. Which of the following is true concerning metronidazole?
