Changes in trachoma indicators in Kiribati with two rounds of azithromycin mass drug administration, measured in serial population-based surveys

by E. Brook Goodhew, Raebwebwe Taoaba, Emma M. Harding-Esch, Sarah E. Gwyn, Ana Bakhtiari, Robert Butcher, Anasaini Cama, Sarah Anne J. Guagliardo, Cristina Jimenez, Caleb D. Mpyet, Kab Tun, Karana Wickens, Anthony W. Solomon, Diana L. Martin, Rabebe Tekeraoi Baseline mapping in the two major population centers of Kiribati showed that trachoma was a public health problem in need of programmatic interventions. After conducting two annual rounds of antibiotic mass drug administration (MDA), Kiribati undertook trachoma impact surveys in 2019, using standardized two-stage cluster surveys in the evaluation units of Kiritimati Island and Tarawa. In Kiritimati, 516 households were visited and in Tarawa, 772 households were visited. Nearly all households had a drinking water source and access to an improved latrine. The prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis remained above the elimination threshold (0.2% in ≥15-year-olds) and was virtually unchanged from baseline. The prevalence of trachomatous inflammation—follicular (TF) in 1–9-year-olds decreased by approximately 40% from baseline in both evaluation units but remained above the 5% TF prevalence threshold for stopping MDA. TF prevalence at impa ct survey was 11.5% in Kiritimati and 17.9% in Tarawa. Infection prevalence in 1–9-year-olds by PCR was 0.96% in Kiritimati and 3.3% in Tarawa. Using a multiplex bead assay to measure antibodies to theC.trachomatis antigen Pgp3, seroprevalence in 1 –9-year-olds was 30.2% in Kiritim...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Source Type: research