Mass Azithromycin Administration: Who Benefits Most?

Azithromycin for children aged 1–59 months was more effective in reducing mortality among infants than selective administration to infants, suggesting spillover benefits from the intervention.

Mass azithromycin administration reduces childhood mortality in certain countries, with greatest benefits in young infants and populations having highest infant mortality (NEJM JW Infect Dis Jun 5 2019; multiple citations). WHO has recommended limiting the use of this intervention to infants aged 1–11 months in selected countries to minimize risk for antimicrobial resistance — but is that the best approach?

In a double-blind, response-adaptive, cluster-randomized, placebo-controlled trial in rural and periurban Niger throughout 2 years, investigators assigned communities to twice-yearly azithromycin for all children aged 1–59 months, twice-yearly azithromycin for infants aged 1–11 months and placebo for children aged 12–59 months, or twice-y…

Reviewing Author

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Mass Azithromycin Administration: Who Benefits Most?

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Reviewing Author