Single-dose azithromycin is being considered by the WHO as an intervention for prevention of child mortality. However, concerns have emerged related to longer term unintended consequences of early life antibiotic use, particularly among infants. We conducted a long-term follow-up in a random sample of children who had been enrolled in a trial of neonatal azithromycin versus placebo for prevention of mortality to assess whether neonatal azithromycin exposure led to differences in child growth up to 4 years of age. We found no evidence of a difference in any anthropometric outcome among children who had received a single oral dose of azithromycin compared with placebo during the neonatal period. These results do not support long-term growth-promoting or deleterious effects of early life azithromycin exposure.
BT - Am J Trop Med Hyg DA - 2024 Jul 16 DO - 10.4269/ajtmh.24-0016 J2 - Am J Trop Med Hyg LA - eng N2 -Single-dose azithromycin is being considered by the WHO as an intervention for prevention of child mortality. However, concerns have emerged related to longer term unintended consequences of early life antibiotic use, particularly among infants. We conducted a long-term follow-up in a random sample of children who had been enrolled in a trial of neonatal azithromycin versus placebo for prevention of mortality to assess whether neonatal azithromycin exposure led to differences in child growth up to 4 years of age. We found no evidence of a difference in any anthropometric outcome among children who had received a single oral dose of azithromycin compared with placebo during the neonatal period. These results do not support long-term growth-promoting or deleterious effects of early life azithromycin exposure.
PY - 2024 T2 - Am J Trop Med Hyg TI - Neonatal Azithromycin Exposure and Childhood Growth: Long-Term Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Trial. SN - 1476-1645 ER -