ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2018
One round of azithromycin MDA adequate to interrupt transmission in districts with prevalence of trachomatous inflammation-follicular of 5.0-9.9%: Evidence from Malawi.
Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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16 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Dose and formulation of azithromycin in mass drug administration studies: a systematic review protocol.BMJ paediatrics open · 2019Pooled it
- Progress Towards Elimination of Trachoma as a Public Health Problem in Eritrea: Results of a Systematic Review and Nine Population-based Prevalence Surveys Conducted in 2014.Ophthalmic epidemiology · 2018Pooled it
- Prevalence of nasopharyngealThe Lancet. Microbe · 2022Trial
- Comparison of antimicrobial resistance genes on the ocular surface of patients with corneal infections in California and Malawi.International health · 2025Article
- Assessing the prevalence of trachoma in the East, North, Far North and Adamaoua regions of Cameroon, 2016-2022.International health · 2025Article
- Progress towards the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in four counties of Eastern Equatoria State, Republic of South Sudan.Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH · 2025Article
- Prevalence of Trachoma in Four Evaluation Units in Yemen after Implementation of Trachoma Elimination Measures.Ophthalmic epidemiology · 2024Article
- Using community-based participatory approaches to improve access to mass drug administration for trachoma elimination in a pastoral conflict area of Kenya.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2024Article
- Trachoma Prevalence in Four Localities of Darfur Region, Sudan, following One Round of Antibiotic Mass Drug Administration.Ophthalmic epidemiology · 2023Article
- Prevalence of Trachoma following Implementation of the SAFE Strategy in Three Local Government Areas of Taraba State, North Eastern Nigeria.Ophthalmic epidemiology · 2023Article
- Prevalence of Trachoma in 72 Districts of Afghanistan in 2018-2019: Results of 35 Population-based Prevalence Surveys.Ophthalmic epidemiology · 2023Article
- Prevalence of Trachoma in Pakistan: Results of 42 Population-Based Prevalence Surveys from the Global Trachoma Mapping Project.Ophthalmic epidemiology · 2020Article
- Effectiveness and safety of azithromycin 1.5% eye drops for mass treatment of active trachoma in a highly endemic district in Cameroon.BMJ open ophthalmology · 2020Article
- Progress toward Elimination of Trachoma as a Public Health Problem in Seven Localities in the Republic of Sudan: Results from Population-Based Surveys.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2019Article
- How much trachomatous trichiasis is there? A guide to calculating district-level estimates.Community eye health · 2019Article
- Prevalence of trachoma in 13 Local Government Areas of Taraba State, Nigeria.Ophthalmic epidemiology · 2018Article
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Abstract
backgroundAs highly trachoma-endemic countries approach elimination, some districts will have prevalences of trachomatous inflammation-follicular in 1-9-year-olds (TF1-9) of 5.0-9.9%. The World Health Organization (WHO) previously recommended that in such districts, TF prevalence be assessed in each sub-district (groupings of at least three villages), with three rounds of azithromycin treatment offered to any sub-district in which TF≥10%. Given the large number of endemic districts worldwide and the human and financial resources required to conduct surveys, this recommendation may not be practical. In a group of 8 Malawi districts with baseline TF prevalences of 5.0-9.9%, the Malawi Ministry of Health administered one round of azithromycin mass treatment, to the whole of each district, achieving mean coverage of ~80%. Here, we report impact surveys conducted after that treatment.
methodsWe undertook population-based trachoma surveys in 18 evaluation units of the 8 treated districts, at least 6 months after the MDA. The standardized training package and survey methodologies of Tropical Data, which conform to WHO recommendations, were used.
resultsEach of the 18 evaluation units had a TF1-9 prevalence <5.0%.
conclusionThe study demonstrates that in Malawi districts with TF of 5.0-9.9%, one round of azithromycin MDA with ~80% coverage associates with a reduction in TF prevalence to <5%. Further evidence for this approach should be collected elsewhere.
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