OBJECTIVE: To compare the impact of mass treatment with oral azithromycin and topical tetracycline on the prevalence of active trachoma. METHODS:A total of 1803 inhabitants from 106 households of eight Gambian villages were randomized, in pairs, to receive either three doses of azithromycin at weekly intervals, or daily topical tetracycline over 6 weeks. Ocular examinations were conducted before treatment, and 2, 6 and 12 months after treatment. FINDINGS: Prior to treatment, 16% of the study participants had active trachoma. Two months after treatment, the prevalence of trachoma was 4.6% and 5.1% in the azithromycin and the tetracycline groups, respectively (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.09; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.53, 2.02). Subsequently, the prevalence rose to 16% in the tetracycline group, while remaining at 7.7% in the azithromycin group (adjusted OR at 12 months = 0.52; 95% CI = 0.34, 0.80). At 12 months post-treatment, there were fewer new prevalent cases in the azithromycin group, and trachoma resolution was significantly better for this group (adjusted OR = 2.02; 95% CI = 1.42, 3.50). CONCLUSION:Oral azithromycin therefore appears to offer a means for controlling blinding trachoma. It is easy to administer and higher coverages may be possible than have been achieved hitherto.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To compare the impact of mass treatment with oral azithromycin and topical tetracycline on the prevalence of active trachoma. METHODS: A total of 1803 inhabitants from 106 households of eight Gambian villages were randomized, in pairs, to receive either three doses of azithromycin at weekly intervals, or daily topical tetracycline over 6 weeks. Ocular examinations were conducted before treatment, and 2, 6 and 12 months after treatment. FINDINGS: Prior to treatment, 16% of the study participants had active trachoma. Two months after treatment, the prevalence of trachoma was 4.6% and 5.1% in the azithromycin and the tetracycline groups, respectively (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.09; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.53, 2.02). Subsequently, the prevalence rose to 16% in the tetracycline group, while remaining at 7.7% in the azithromycin group (adjusted OR at 12 months = 0.52; 95% CI = 0.34, 0.80). At 12 months post-treatment, there were fewer new prevalent cases in the azithromycin group, and trachoma resolution was significantly better for this group (adjusted OR = 2.02; 95% CI = 1.42, 3.50). CONCLUSION: Oral azithromycin therefore appears to offer a means for controlling blinding trachoma. It is easy to administer and higher coverages may be possible than have been achieved hitherto.
Authors: Jeremy D Keenan; Takele Lakew; Wondu Alemayehu; Muluken Melese; Jenafir I House; Nisha R Acharya; Travis C Porco; Bruce D Gaynor; Thomas M Lietman Journal: Arch Ophthalmol Date: 2011-04
Authors: Jennifer R Evans; Anthony W Solomon; Rahul Kumar; Ángela Perez; Balendra P Singh; Rajat Mohan Srivastava; Emma Harding-Esch Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2019-09-26
Authors: Catherine E Oldenburg; Ahmed M Arzika; Ramatou Maliki; Mohamed Salissou Kane; Elodie Lebas; Kathryn J Ray; Catherine Cook; Sun Y Cotter; Zhaoxia Zhou; Sheila K West; Robin Bailey; Travis C Porco; Jeremy D Keenan; Thomas M Lietman Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2018-11-12
Authors: Hamidah Mahmud; Emma Landskroner; Abdou Amza; Solomon Aragie; William W Godwin; Anna de Hostos Barth; Kieran S O'Brien; Thomas M Lietman; Catherine E Oldenburg Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2021-07-08