Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42748169›Full record

ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2026

Impact of two rounds of azithromycin mass drug administration on active trachoma and ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Naoero.

Carleigh S Cowling, Sue-Chen Apadinuwe, Anasaini Cama, Mitchell Starr, Emma M Harding-Esch, Cristina Jimenez, Ana Bakhtiari, Sarah Boyd, Sara Webster, Anthony W Solomon and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Carleigh S CowlingThe Kirby Institute, UNSW, Sydney, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8539-1083
Sue-Chen ApadinuweMinistry of Health and Medical Services, Denig, Naoero.
Anasaini CamaPacific Eye Care Society, Suva, Fiji.
Mitchell StarrNSW State Reference Laboratory for HIV, St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Emma M Harding-EschLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Cristina JimenezSightsavers, Haywards Heath, United Kingdom.
Ana BakhtiariInternational Trachoma Initiative, The Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America.
Sarah BoydInternational Trachoma Initiative, The Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America.
Sara WebsterPacific Eye Care Society, Suva, Fiji.
Anthony W SolomonMalaria & Neglected Tropical Diseases Department, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Simon ReidSchool of Public Health, University of Queensland, Herston, Australia.
John M KaldorThe Kirby Institute, UNSW, Sydney, Australia.
Susana Vaz NeryThe Kirby Institute, UNSW, Sydney, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTrachoma, caused by ocular infection with the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, is the primary infectious cause of blindness globally. To contribute to the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem, Naoero undertook two rounds of antibiotic mass drug administration (MDA) using azithromycin, with population-level coverage estimated at 87% and 93%. This study aimed to estimate the post-MDA prevalence of trachoma, and infection with C. trachomatis, in children aged 1-9 years.

methodsA two-stage cluster sampled survey was conducted 12 months after the second MDA round. All residents aged ≥1 year were examined for signs of trachoma, and conjunctival swabs were collected from children aged 1-9 years for PCR testing. Data on domestic access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services were also collected.

resultsOverall, 2,150 residents were examined, with 724 aged 1-9 years. The age-adjusted prevalence of trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) in children aged 1-9 years was 6.0% (95%CI 3.9-7.7). The age-adjusted prevalence of C. trachomatis in the same age group was 2.7% (95%CI 0.3-5.1). There was evidence of trachomatous trichiasis (TT) previously unknown to the health system in one resident aged ≥15 years out of 1114 examined (age- and gender-adjusted prevalence 0.04%, 95%CI 0-0.12). Access to improved water sources for hygiene purposes was reported in 99.8% of households surveyed, and 99% of households reported access to an improved latrine.

conclusionsIn Naoero, the impact survey prevalence of TF was above, and of TT was below, the thresholds defined by WHO as indicating "elimination as a public health problem". The C. trachomatis prevalence estimate was lower than it was pre-MDA (39.4%), demonstrating the impact of antibiotic MDA. Despite the potential value of PCR data in addition to clinical indicators to help inform the need for trachoma elimination interventions, particularly in post-MDA or low TF prevalence areas, standardised thresholds for interpreting C. trachomatis prevalence have yet to be established. They are urgently needed so that they can be formally used to guide future interventions.

Indexed as

Anti-Bacterial AgentsAzithromycinChlamydia trachomatisMass Drug AdministrationTrachomaChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansInfantMalePrevalenceAnti-Bacterial AgentsAzithromycin

Identifiers

PMID42748169
PMCPMC13581005

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.