Comparison of annual versus twice-yearly mass azithromycin treatment for hyperendemic trachoma in Ethiopia: a cluster-randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: In trachoma control programmes, azithromycin is distributed to treat the strains of chlamydia that cause ocular disease. We aimed to compare the effect of annual versus twice-yearly distribution of azithromycin on infection with these strains. METHODS: We did a cluster-randomised trial in 24 subdistricts in northern Ethiopia, which we randomly assigned to receive annual or twice-yearly treatment for all residents of all ages. Random assignment was done with the RANDOM and SORT functions of Microsoft Excel. All individuals were offered their assigned treatment of a single, directly observed, oral dose of azithromycin. A 6 week course of topical 1% tetracycline ointment, applied twice daily to both eyes but not directly observed, was offered as an alternative to azithromycin in patients younger than 12 months, and in patients with self-reported pregnancy, with allergy, or who refused azithromycin. Our primary, prespecified outcome was the prevalence of ocular chlamydial infection in a random sample of children aged 0-9 years at baseline and every 6 months for a total of 42 months within sentinel villages. Our analysis was by intention to treat. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00322972. FINDINGS: Antibiotic coverage of children aged 1-9 years was greater than 80% (range 80·9 to 93·0) at all study visits. In the groups treated annually, the prevalence of infection in children aged 0-9 years was reduced from a mean 41·9% (95% CI 31·5 to 52·2) at baseline to 1·9% (0·3 to 3·5) at 42 months. In the groups treated twice yearly, the prevalence of infection was reduced from a mean 38·3% (29·0 to 47·6) at baseline to 3·2 % (0·0 to 6·5) at 42 months. The prevalence of ocular chlamydial infection in children aged 0-9 years in groups treated annually was not different from that of the groups treated twice yearly at 18, 30, and 42 months (pooled regression p>0·99, 95 % CI -0·06 to 0·06). The mean elimination time in the twice-yearly treatment group was 7·5 months earlier (2·3 to 17·3) than that of the annual group (p=0·10, Cox proportional hazards model). INTERPRETATION: After 42 months of treatment, the prevalence of ocular infection with chlamydia was similar in the groups treated annually and twice yearly. However, elimination of infection might have been more rapid in the groups of villages that received treatment twice yearly. FUNDING: National Institutes of Health (NEI U10 EY016214).

Childhood mortality in a cohort treated with mass azithromycin for trachoma.

BACKGROUND: Mass azithromycin distributions are used to clear ocular strains of chlamydia that cause trachoma, but treatments may also affect respiratory infections, diarrhea, and malaria. Here, we monitor a large cohort in which almost 90% of individuals received azithromycin. We assess whether receiving treatment is associated with reduced all-cause and infectious childhood mortality. METHODS: As part of a clinical trial for trachoma, a census was conducted in 24 communities in rural Ethiopia. All individuals ≥1 year of age were eligible for single-dose oral azithromycin, although antibiotic coverage was not universal. A follow-up census was performed 26 months after treatment to estimate all-cause mortality among children 1-5 years of age, and verbal autopsies were performed to identify infectious mortality. RESULTS: The cohort included 35,052 individuals ≥1 year of age and 5507 children 1-5 years of age, of whom 4914 received a dose of azithromycin. All-cause mortality was significantly lower among those 1-5-year-old children who received azithromycin (odds ratio [OR]=0.35 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.17-0.74]), as was infectious mortality (OR=0.20 [95% CI, 0.07-0.58]). When individuals were compared only with members of the same household, azithromycin treatment was still associated with reduced all-cause mortality in children 1-5 years of age (OR=0.40 [95% CI, 0.16-0.96]), although this relationship was not statistically significant for infectious mortality (OR=0.35 [95% CI, 0.10-1.28]). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated an association between mass oral azithromycin treatment and reduced all-cause and infectious childhood mortality. This relationship could not be attributed to bias at the level of the household. Mass azithromycin distributions may have benefits unrelated to trachoma.

Assessment of herd protection against trachoma due to repeated mass antibiotic distributions: a cluster-randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: Trachoma-control programmes distribute oral azithromycin to treat the ocular strains of chlamydia that cause the disease and to control infection. Theoretically, elimination of infection is feasible if untreated individuals receive an indirect protective effect from living in repeatedly treated communities, which is similar to herd protection in vaccine programmes. We assessed indirect protection against trachoma with mass azithromycin distributions. METHODS: In a cluster randomised trial, 24 subkebeles (government-defined units) in Amhara, Ethiopia, were randomised, with use of a simple random sample, to distribution four times per year of single-dose oral azithromycin to children aged 1-10 years (12 subkebeles, 4764 children), or to delayed treatment until after the study (control; 12 subkebeles, 6014 children). We compared the prevalence of ocular chlamydial infection in untreated individuals 11 years and older between baseline and 12 months in the treated subkebeles, and at 12 months between the treated and control subkebeles. Health-care and laboratory personnel were blinded to study group. Analysis was intention to treat. The study is registered with clinicaltrials.gov, number NCT00322972. FINDINGS: At 12 months, 637 children aged 1-10 years and 561 adults and children aged 11 years and older were analysed in the children-treated group, and 618 and 550, respectively, in the control group. The mean prevalence of infection in children decreased from 48.4% (95% CI 42.9-53.9) to 3.6% (0.8-6.4) after four mass treatments. At 12 months, the mean prevalence of infection in the untreated age group (>/=11 years) was 47% (95% CI 33-57) less than baseline (p=0.002), and 35% (95% CI 1-57) less than that in untreated communities (p=0.04). INTERPRETATION: Frequent treatment of children, who are a core group for transmission of trachoma, could eventually eliminate infection from the entire community. Herd protection is offered by repeated mass antibiotic treatments, providing a strategy for elimination of a bacterial disease when an effective vaccine is unavailable. FUNDING: National Institutes of Health.

Complete elimination is a difficult goal for trachoma programs in severely affected communities.

The World Health Organization has distributed millions of doses of azithromycin to control the ocular chlamydial infection that causes trachoma. Theoretically, a loftier goal of elimination is feasible. Here, we demonstrate that, although local elimination of infection in the most severely affected communities is difficult, it is possible with biannual antibiotic distributions.

Comparison of an rRNA-based and DNA-based nucleic acid amplification test for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in trachoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The World Health Organisation (WHO) hopes to achieve global elimination of trachoma, still the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide, in part through mass antibiotic treatment. DNA-based nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are currently used to evaluate the success of treatment programmes by measuring the prevalence of C trachomatis infection. Some believe that newer ribosomal RNA (rRNA)-based tests may be much more sensitive since bacterial rRNA is present in amounts up to 10 000 times that of genomic DNA. Others believe that rRNA-based tests are instead less sensitive but more specific, due to the presence of dead or subviable organisms that the test may not detect. This study compares an rRNA-based test to a DNA-based test for the detection of ocular C trachomatis infection in children living in trachoma-endemic villages. METHODS: An rRNA-based amplification test and DNA-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed on swab specimens taken from the right upper tarsal conjunctiva of 56 children aged 0-10 years living in two villages in Amhara, Ethiopia. RESULTS: The rRNA-based test detected ocular C trachomatis infection in 35 (63%) subjects compared with 22 (39%) detected by PCR (McNemar's test, p = 0.0002). The rRNA-based test gave positive results for all subjects that were positive by PCR, and also detected infection in 13 (23%) additional subjects. CONCLUSION: The rRNA-based test appears to have significantly greater sensitivity than PCR for the detection of ocular chlamydial infection in children in trachoma-endemic villages. Using the rRNA-based test, we may be able to detect infection that was previously missed with PCR. Past studies using DNA-based tests to assess prevalence of infectious trachoma following antibiotic treatment may have underestimated the true prevalence of infection.

Adverse events after mass azithromycin treatments for trachoma in Ethiopia.

During a cluster-randomized clinical trial for trachoma in Ethiopia, two rounds of adverse event surveillance were performed in a random sample of communities after community-wide mass azithromycin treatment. The prevalence of any reported adverse event ranged from 4.9% to 7.0% in children 1-9 years of age and from 17.0% to 18.7% in persons ≥ 10 years of age. Adverse events appeared to cluster by household and perhaps by village. Mass azithromycin distributions were well tolerated in this setting.

Risk factors for ocular chlamydia after three mass azithromycin distributions.

BACKGROUND: An important component of the World Health Organization's comprehensive trachoma elimination strategy is the provision of repeated annual mass azithromycin distributions, which are directed at reducing the burden of ocular chlamydia. Knowledge of characteristics associated with infection after mass antibiotic treatments could allow trachoma programs to focus resources to those most likely to be infected with ocular chlamydia. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We monitored 12 communities in rural Ethiopia that had received 3 annual mass azithromycin treatments as part of a cluster-randomized trial for trachoma. One year after the third treatment, a random sample of children from each village received conjunctival examination for follicular trachomatous inflammation (TF) and intense trachomatous inflammation (TI), conjunctival swabbing for chlamydial RNA and DNA, and a household survey. The primary outcome for this study was RNA evidence of ocular chlamydia, which we detected in 41 of 573 swabbed children (7.2%, 95%CI 2.7-17.8). In multivariate mixed effects logistic regression models, ocular chlamydial RNA was significantly associated with ocular discharge (OR 2.82, 95%CI 1.07-7.42), missing the most recent mass azithromycin treatment (OR 2.49, 95%CI 1.02-6.05), having a sibling with ocular chlamydia (OR 4.44, 95%CI 1.60-12.29), and above-median community population (OR 7.81, 95%CI 1.56-39.09). Ocular chlamydial infection was also independently associated with TF (OR 3.42, 95%CI 1.56-7.49) and TI (OR 5.39, 95%CI 2.43-11.98). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: In areas with highly prevalent trachoma treated with multiple rounds of mass azithromycin, trachoma programs could consider continuing mass azithromycin treatments in households that have missed prior mass antibiotic treatments, in households with clinically active trachoma, and in larger communities.

Latrine promotion for trachoma: assessment of mortality from a cluster-randomized trial in Ethiopia.

Trachoma control strategies, including latrine construction and antibiotic distribution, are directed at reducing ocular chlamydia, but may have additional benefits. In a cluster-randomized clinical trial, 24 subkebeles (administrative geographic units) in Ethiopia were offered a single mass azithromycin treatment, and half were randomized to receive an intensive latrine promotion. At a follow-up census 26 months after the baseline treatment, 320 persons had died. The mortality rate of children 1-5 years of age was 3.87 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.19-6.82) per 1,000 person-years in the latrine promotion arm, and 2.72 (95% CI = 1.37-5.42) per 1,000 person-years in the control arm. In a multi-level mixed effects logistic regression model controlling for age, there was no difference in mortality in persons randomized into the latrine or control arms (odds ratio = 1.18, 95% CI = 0.89-1.58). Latrine promotion provided no additional effect on mortality in the context of an azithromycin distribution program (clinicaltrials.gov, #NCT00322972).

Efficacy of latrine promotion on emergence of infection with ocular Chlamydia trachomatis after mass antibiotic treatment: a cluster-randomized trial.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends environmental improvements such as latrine construction in the integrated trachoma control strategy, SAFE. We report a cluster-randomized trial assessing the effect of intensive latrine promotion on emergence of infection with ocular Chlamydia trachomatis after mass treatment with antibiotics.Twenty-four communities in Goncha Seso Enesie woreda, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia, were enumerated, and a random selection of 60 children aged 0- 9 years in each was monitored for clinical signs of trachoma and ocular chlamydial infection at baseline, 12 and 24 months. All community members were offered treatment with a single dose of oral azithromycin or topical tetracycline. After treatment, 12 subkebeles were randomized to receive intensive latrine promotion. Mean cluster ocular infection in the latrine and the non-latrine arms were reduced from 45.5% (95% CI 34.1-56.8%) and 43.0% (95% CI 31.1-54.8%) respectively at baseline to 14.6% (95% CI 7.4-21.8%) and 14.8% (95% CI 8.9-20.8%) respectively at 24 months (P=0.93). Clinical signs fell from 72.0% (95% CI 58.2-85.5%) and 61.3% (95% CI 44.0-78.5%) at baseline to 45.8% (36.0-55.6%) and 48.5% (34.0-62.9%) respectively at 24 months (P=0.69). At 24 months, estimated household latrine coverage and use were 80.8% and 61.7% respectively where there had been intensive latrine promotion and 30.0% and 25.0% respectively in the single treatment only arm. We were unable to detect a difference in the prevalence of ocular chlamydial infection in children due to latrine construction.

Clinical activity and polymerase chain reaction evidence of chlamydial infection after repeated mass antibiotic treatments for trachoma.

It is unclear how the prevalence of clinically active trachoma correlates with the prevalence of ocular chlamydial infection at the community level. In 24 villages from a cluster-randomized clinical trial of mass azithromycin distributions in Ethiopia, the correlation between the prevalence of clinical activity (on examination) and chlamydial infection (by polymerase chain reaction) was moderately strong before mass antibiotic treatments (Pearson's correlation coefficient r = 0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.52-0.87), but decreased at each time point during four biannual treatments (at 24 months, r = 0.15, 95% CI = -0.14-0.41). One year after the final treatment, the correlation coefficient had increased, but not to the pre-treatment level (r = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.30-0.73). In a region with hyperendemic trachoma, conjunctival examination was a useful indicator of the prevalence of chlamydial infection before treatments, less useful during mass treatments, but regained utility by one year after treatments had stopped.

Importance of coverage and endemicity on the return of infectious trachoma after a single mass antibiotic distribution.

BACKGROUND: As part of the SAFE strategy, mass antibiotic treatments are useful in controlling the ocular strains of chlamydia that cause trachoma. The World Health Organization recommends treating at least 80% of individuals per community. However, the role of antibiotic coverage for trachoma control has been poorly characterized. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In a collection of cluster-randomized clinical trials, mass oral azithromycin was administered to 40 villages in Ethiopia. The village prevalence of ocular chlamydia was determined before treatment, and at two and six months post-treatment. The mean prevalence of ocular chlamydia was 48.9% (95% CI 42.8 to 55.0%) before mass treatments, decreased to 5.4% (95% CI 3.9 to 7.0%) at two months after treatments (p<0.0001), and returned to 7.9% (95% CI 5.4 to 10.4%) by six months after treatment (p = 0.03). Antibiotic coverage ranged from 73.9% to 100%, with a mean of 90.6%. In multivariate regression models, chlamydial prevalence two months after treatment was associated with baseline infection (p<0.0001) and antibiotic coverage (p = 0.007). However, by six months after treatment, chlamydial prevalence was associated only with baseline infection (p<0.0001), but not coverage (p = 0.31). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: In post-hoc analyses of a large clinical trial, the amount of endemic chlamydial infection was a strong predictor of chlamydial infection after mass antibiotic treatments. Antibiotic coverage was an important short-term predictor of chlamydial infection, but no longer predicted infection by six months after mass antibiotic treatments. A wider range of antibiotic coverage than found in this study might allow an assessment of a more subtle association.

Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis ocular infection in trachoma-endemic communities by rRNA amplification.

PURPOSE: Trachoma remains the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends mass antibiotic distributions in its strategy to eliminate blinding trachoma. To determine the most effective antibiotic treatment strategy, it is essential to have a diagnostic test that can correctly measure the true status of ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection in individuals, particularly after treatment. A newer ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA)-based amplification test was compared with the current DNA-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of C. trachomatis. METHODS: An rRNA-based assay and PCR were performed on swab specimens taken from the right upper tarsal conjunctiva of 240 children aged 1 to 5 years living among 16 endemic villages in the Gurage Zone, Ethiopia. RESULTS: The rRNA-based test detected ocular C. trachomatis infection in 142 (59%) subjects compared with 67 (28%) detected by PCR (McNemar's test, P < 0.0001). The rRNA-based test gave positive results for all subjects who were positive by PCR and detected infection in 75 (31%) additional subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The rRNA-based test appears to have significantly greater sensitivity than PCR for the detection of ocular C. trachomatis infection in children in trachoma-endemic villages. The increased sensitivity of the rRNA-based test may be due to its ability to detect low levels of C. trachomatis infection in individuals, which can occur especially after antibiotic treatment. Data from past studies in which PCR was used to assess the prevalence of infectious trachoma after community-wide antibiotic treatments could have underestimated the true prevalence of infection.