Annual Versus Biannual Mass Azithromycin Distribution and Malaria Parasitemia During the Peak Transmission Season Among Children in Niger.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Azithromycin has modest efficacy against malaria, and previous cluster randomized trials have suggested that mass azithromycin distribution for trachoma control may play a role in malaria control. We evaluated the effect of annual versus biannual mass azithromycin distribution over a 3-year period on malaria prevalence during the peak transmission season in a region with seasonal malaria transmission in Niger. METHODS:Twenty-four communities in Matameye, Niger, were randomized to annual mass azithromycin distribution (3 distributions to the entire community during the peak transmission season) or biannual-targeted azithromycin distribution (6 distributions to children <12 years of age, including 3 in the peak transmission season and 3 in the low transmission season). Malaria indices were evaluated at 36 months during the high transmission season. RESULTS:Parasitemia prevalence was 42.6% (95% confidence interval: 31.7%-53.6%) in the biannual distribution arm compared with 50.6% (95% confidence interval: 40.3%-60.8%) in the annual distribution arm (P = 0.29). There was no difference in parasite density or hemoglobin concentration in the 2 treatment arms. CONCLUSIONS:Additional rounds of mass azithromycin distribution during low transmission may not have a significant impact on malaria parasitemia measured during the peak transmission season.

SUBMITTER: Oldenburg CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5924654 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature