Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: Annual mass azithromycin treatments are provided to entire communities to clear the ocular strains of Chlamydia trachomatis that cause blinding trachoma.Mass treatments reduce the community burden of ocular chlamydia and have proven efficacious in communityrandomized trials. 1 Since 1999, more than 150 million doses of azithromycin have been distributed for trachoma worldwide.2 Mass azithromycin distributions are directed at clearing ocular chlamydia but may have other effects.For example, in the Trachoma Amelioration in Northern Amhara (TANA) trial, we found that mass azithromycin distributions reduced childhood mortality.3 In contrast, a recent observational study suggested that azithromycin use may cause sudden death in adults.4 This finding could have major implications for trachoma elimination efforts.In our previous report, an intention-to-treat analysis found no evidence of increased mortality among individuals older than 9 years.3 However, in light of the recent observational study, we thought it worthwhile to reassess our data to determine the mortality rates and causes of death in an older subgroup of individuals and to compare mortality in individuals who received azithromycin with that in those who did not. MethodsTANA was a National Institutes of Health-funded, cluster-randomized trial conducted in Ethiopia from 2006 through 2009 (clinicaltrials
Source: JAMA Internal Medicine
Language: English
Subfield: Ophthalmology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2099507563