HIV Insight: Mass Drug Administration of Azithromycin for Trachoma Reduces the Prevalence of Genital Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection in the Solomon Islands

OBJECTIVES:

Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection and is frequently asymptomatic; ocular C. trachomatis strains cause trachoma. Mass drug administration (MDA) of azithromycin for trachoma might also reduce the prevalence of genital C. trachomatis. In a survey conducted in the Solomon Islands in 2014, prior to MDA, the prevalence of genital C. trachomatis was 20.3% (95% CI 15.9% to 25.4%). We conducted a survey to establish the impact of MDA with azithromycin on genital C. trachomatis.

METHODS:

Women attending three community outpatient clinics, predominantly for antenatal care, 10 months after MDA with azithromycin given for trachoma elimination, were enrolled in this survey. Self-taken high vaginal swabs were for C. trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae using the BD Probetec strand displacement assay.

RESULTS:

298 women were enrolled. C. trachomatis infection was diagnosed in 43 women (14.4%, 95% CI 10.6% to 18.9%) and N. gonorrhoeae in 9 (3%, 95% CI 1.4% to 5.7%). The age-adjusted OR for C. trachomatis infection was consistent with a significant decrease in the prevalence of C. trachomatis following MDA (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.94, p=0.027). There was no change in the prevalence of N. gonorrhoeae between following MDA (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.22 to 1.22, p=0.13).

CONCLUSIONS:

This study demonstrated a 40% reduction in the age-adjusted prevalence of genital C. trachomatis infection following azithromycin MDA for trachoma elimination.

Full article at: http://goo.gl/Swy2aV

By: Marks M1, Bottomley C2, Tome H3, Pitakaka R4, Butcher R5, Sokana O6, Kako H7, Solomon AW1, Mabey DC1.

1Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK.
2Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
3Nursing Division, Honiara City Council, Honiara, Solomon Islands.
4National Referral Hospital, Honiara, Solomon Islands.
5Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
6Eye Health Department, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Honiara, Solomon Islands.
7Department of STI and HIV Prevention, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Honiara, Solomon Islands.
Sex Transm Infect. 2016 Feb 17. pii: sextrans-2015-052439. doi: 10.1136/sextrans-2015-052439.