@article {1361, title = {Gut Microbiome Diversity and Antimicrobial Resistance After a Single Dose of Oral Azithromycin in Children: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.}, journal = {Am J Trop Med Hyg}, year = {2024}, month = {2024 Jan 16}, abstract = {

Mass antibiotic distribution to preschool children resulted in alterations of the gut microbiome months after distribution. This individually randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluated changes in the gut microbiome and resistome in children aged 8 days to 59 months after one dose of oral azithromycin in Burkina Faso. A total of 450 children were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either placebo or azithromycin. Rectal samples were collected at baseline, 2 weeks, and 6 months after randomization and subjected to DNA deep sequencing. Gut microbiome diversity and normalized antimicrobial resistance determinants for different antibiotic classes were evaluated. Azithromycin decreased gut bacterial diversity (Shannon P < 0.0001; inverse Simpson P < 0.001) 2 weeks after treatment relative to placebo. Concurrently, the normalized abundance of macrolide resistance genetic determinants was 243-fold higher (95\% CI: 76-fold to 776-fold, P < 0.0001). These alterations did not persist at 6 months, suggesting that disruptions were transient. Furthermore, we were unable to detect resistance changes in other antibiotic classes, indicating that co-resistance with a single course of azithromycin when treated at the individual level was unlikely.

}, issn = {1476-1645}, doi = {10.4269/ajtmh.23-0651}, author = {Doan, Thuy and Liu, Zijun and Sie, Ali and Dah, Clarisse and Bountogo, Mamadou and Ouattara, Mamadou and Coulibaly, Boubacar and Kiemde, Dramane and Zonou, Guillaume and Nebie, Eric and Brogdon, Jessica and Lebas, Elodie and Hinterwirth, Armin and Zhong, Lina and Chen, Cindi and Zhou, Zhaoxia and Porco, Travis and Arnold, Benjamin F and Oldenburg, Catherine E and Lietman, Thomas M} } @article {1366, title = {Mass Azithromycin Distribution to Prevent Child Mortality in Burkina Faso: The CHAT Randomized Clinical Trial.}, journal = {JAMA}, volume = {331}, year = {2024}, month = {2024 Feb 13}, pages = {482-490}, abstract = {

IMPORTANCE: Repeated mass distribution of azithromycin has been shown to reduce childhood mortality by 14\% in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the estimated effect varied by location, suggesting that the intervention may not be effective in different geographical areas, time periods, or conditions.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of twice-yearly azithromycin to reduce mortality in children in the presence of seasonal malaria chemoprevention.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cluster randomized placebo-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of single-dose azithromycin for prevention of all-cause childhood mortality included 341 communities in the Nouna district in rural northwestern Burkina Faso. Participants were children aged 1 to 59 months living in the study communities.

INTERVENTIONS: Communities were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive oral azithromycin or placebo distribution. Children aged 1 to 59 months were offered single-dose treatment twice yearly for 3 years (6 distributions) from August 2019 to February 2023.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was all-cause childhood mortality, measured during a twice-yearly enumerative census.

RESULTS: A total of 34 399 children (mean [SD] age, 25.2 [18] months) in the azithromycin group and 33 847 children (mean [SD] age, 25.6 [18] months) in the placebo group were included. A mean (SD) of 90.1\% (16.0\%) of the censused children received the scheduled study drug in the azithromycin group and 89.8\% (17.1\%) received the scheduled study drug in the placebo group. In the azithromycin group, 498 deaths were recorded over 60 592 person-years (8.2 deaths/1000 person-years). In the placebo group, 588 deaths were recorded over 58 547 person-years (10.0 deaths/1000 person-years). The incidence rate ratio for mortality was 0.82 (95\% CI, 0.67-1.02; P = .07) in the azithromycin group compared with the placebo group. The incidence rate ratio was 0.99 (95\% CI, 0.72-1.36) in those aged 1 to 11 months, 0.92 (95\% CI, 0.67-1.27) in those aged 12 to 23 months, and 0.73 (95\% CI, 0.57-0.94) in those aged 24 to 59 months.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Mortality in children (aged 1-59 months) was lower with biannual mass azithromycin distribution in a setting in which seasonal malaria chemoprevention was also being distributed, but the difference was not statistically significant. The study may have been underpowered to detect a clinically relevant difference.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03676764.

}, issn = {1538-3598}, doi = {10.1001/jama.2023.27393}, author = {Oldenburg, Catherine E and Ouattara, Mamadou and Bountogo, Mamadou and Boudo, Valentin and Ouedraogo, Thierry and Compaor{\'e}, Guillaume and Dah, Clarisse and Zakane, Alphonse and Coulibaly, Boubacar and Bagagnan, Cheik and Hu, Huiyu and O{\textquoteright}Brien, Kieran S and Nyatigo, Fanice and Keenan, Jeremy D and Doan, Thuy and Porco, Travis C and Arnold, Benjamin F and Lebas, Elodie and Sie, Ali and Lietman, Thomas M} } @article {1381, title = {Prolonged mass azithromycin distributions and macrolide resistance determinants among preschool children in Niger: A sub-study of a cluster-randomized trial (MORDOR).}, journal = {PLoS Med}, volume = {21}, year = {2024}, month = {2024 May}, pages = {e1004386}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Randomized controlled trials found that twice-yearly mass azithromycin administration (MDA) reduces childhood mortality, presumably by reducing infection burden. World Health Organization (WHO) issued conditional guidelines for mass azithromycin administration in high-mortality settings in sub-Saharan Africa given concerns for antibiotic resistance. While prolonged twice-yearly MDA has been shown to increase antibiotic resistance in small randomized controlled trials, the objective of this study was to determine if macrolide and non-macrolide resistance in the gut increases with the duration of azithromycin MDA in a larger setting.

METHODS AND FINDINGS: The Macrolide Oraux pour R{\'e}duire les D{\'e}c{\`e}s avec un Oeil sur la R{\'e}sistance (MORDOR) study was conducted in Niger from December 2014 to June 2020. It was a cluster-randomized trial of azithromycin (A) versus placebo (P) aimed at evaluating childhood mortality. This is a sub-study in the MORDOR trial to track changes in antibiotic resistance after prolonged azithromycin MDA. A total of 594 communities were eligible. Children 1 to 59 months in 163 randomly chosen communities were eligible to receive treatment and included in resistance monitoring. Participants, staff, and investigators were masked to treatment allocation. At the conclusion of MORDOR Phase I, by design, all communities received an additional year of twice-yearly azithromycin treatments (Phase II). Thus, at the conclusion of Phase II, the treatment history (1 letter per 6-month period) for the participating communities was either (PP-PP-AA) or (AA-AA-AA). In Phase III, participating communities were then re-randomized to receive either another 3 rounds of azithromycin or placebo, thus resulting in 4 treatment histories: Group 1 (AA-AA-AA-AA-A, N = 51), Group 2 (PP-PP-AA-AA-A, N = 40), Group 3 (AA-AA-AA-PP-P, N = 27), and Group 4 (PP-PP-AA-PP-P, N = 32). Rectal swabs from each child (N = 5,340) were obtained 6 months after the last treatment. Each child contributed 1 rectal swab and these were pooled at the community level, processed for DNA-seq, and analyzed for genetic resistance determinants. The primary prespecified outcome was macrolide resistance determinants in the gut. Secondary outcomes were resistance to beta-lactams and other antibiotic classes. Communities recently randomized to azithromycin (groups 1 and 2) had significantly more macrolide resistance determinants than those recently randomized to placebo (groups 3 and 4) (fold change 2.18, 95\% CI 1.5 to 3.51, Punadj \< 0.001). However, there was no significant increase in macrolide resistance in communities treated 4.5 years (group 1) compared to just the most recent 2.5 years (group 2) (fold change 0.80, 95\% CI 0.50 to 1.00, Padj = 0.010), or between communities that had been treated for 3 years in the past (group 3) versus just 1 year in the past (group 4) (fold change 1.00, 95\% CI 0.78 to 2.35, Padj = 0.52). We also found no significant differences for beta-lactams or other antibiotic classes. The main limitations of our study were the absence of phenotypic characterization of resistance, no complete placebo arm, and no monitoring outside of Niger limiting generalizability.

CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we observed that mass azithromycin distribution for childhood mortality among preschool children in Niger increased macrolide resistance determinants in the gut but that resistance may plateau after 2 to 3 years of treatment. Co-selection to other classes needs to be monitored.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02047981 https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02047981.

}, keywords = {Anti-Bacterial Agents, Azithromycin, Child Mortality, Child, Preschool, Drug Resistance, Bacterial, Female, Humans, Infant, Macrolides, Male, Mass Drug Administration, Niger}, issn = {1549-1676}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pmed.1004386}, author = {Arzika, Ahmed M and Abdou, Amza and Maliki, Ramatou and Beido, Nassirou and Kadri, Boubacar and Harouna, Abdoul N and Galo, Abdoul N and Alio, Mankara K and Lebas, Elodie and Oldenburg, Catherine E and O{\textquoteright}Brien, Kieran S and Chen, Cindi and Zhong, Lina and Zhou, Zhaoxia and Yan, Daisy and Hinterwirth, Armin and Keenan, Jeremy D and Porco, Travis C and Lietman, Thomas M and Doan, Thuy} } @article {931, title = {Effect of biannual azithromycin distribution on antibody responses to malaria, bacterial, and protozoan pathogens in Niger.}, journal = {Nat Commun}, volume = {13}, year = {2022}, month = {2022 02 21}, pages = {976}, abstract = {

The MORDOR trial in Niger, Malawi, and Tanzania found that biannual mass distribution of azithromycin to children younger than 5 years led to a 13.5\% reduction in all-cause mortality (NCT02048007). To help elucidate the mechanism for mortality reduction, we report IgG responses to 11 malaria, bacterial, and protozoan pathogens using a multiplex bead assay in pre-specified substudy of 30 communities in the rural Niger placebo-controlled trial over a three-year period (n = 5642 blood specimens, n = 3814 children ages 1-59 months). Mass azithromycin reduces Campylobacter spp. force of infection by 29\% (hazard ratio = 0.71, 95\% CI: 0.56, 0.89; P = 0.004) but serological measures show no significant differences between groups for other pathogens against a backdrop of high transmission. Results align with a recent microbiome study in the communities. Given significant sequelae of Campylobacter infection among preschool aged children, our results support an important mechanism through which biannual mass distribution of azithromycin likely reduces mortality in Niger.

}, issn = {2041-1723}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-022-28565-5}, author = {Arzika, Ahmed M and Maliki, Ramatou and Goodhew, E Brook and Rogier, Eric and Priest, Jeffrey W and Lebas, Elodie and O{\textquoteright}Brien, Kieran S and Le, Victoria and Oldenburg, Catherine E and Doan, Thuy and Porco, Travis C and Keenan, Jeremy D and Lietman, Thomas M and Martin, Diana L and Arnold, Benjamin F} } @article {1036, title = {Effect of Single-dose Azithromycin on Pneumococcal Carriage and Resistance: A Randomized Controlled Trial.}, journal = {Pediatr Infect Dis J}, volume = {41}, year = {2022}, month = {2022 Sep 01}, pages = {728-730}, abstract = {

We evaluated antibiotic resistance selection in Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from children participating in an individually randomized trial of single-dose azithromycin versus placebo. After 14 days, the prevalence of resistance to erythromycin, oxacillin, and clindamycin was elevated in the azithromycin versus placebo group. There was no difference at 6 months.

}, issn = {1532-0987}, doi = {10.1097/INF.0000000000003585}, author = {Coulibaly, Boubacar and Kiemde, Dramane and Zonou, Guillaume and Sie, Ali and Dah, Clarisse and Bountogo, Mamadou and Brogdon, Jessica and Hu, Huiyu and Lebas, Elodie and Porco, Travis C and Doan, Thuy and Lietman, Thomas M and Oldenburg, Catherine E} } @article {1156, title = {Gut Microbiome among Children with Uncomplicated Severe Acute Malnutrition in a Randomized Controlled Trial of Azithromycin versus Amoxicillin.}, journal = {Am J Trop Med Hyg}, year = {2022}, month = {2022 Dec 12}, abstract = {

Antibiotics are routinely used as part of the management of severe acute malnutrition and are known to reduce gut microbial diversity in non-malnourished children. We evaluated gut microbiomes in children participating in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of azithromycin versus amoxicillin for severe acute malnutrition. Three hundred one children aged 6 to 59 months with uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition (mid-upper arm circumference \< 11.5 cm and/or weight-for-height Z-score \< -3 without clinical complications) were enrolled in a 1:1 RCT of single-dose azithromycin versus a 7-day course of amoxicillin (standard of care). Of these, 109 children were randomly selected for microbiome evaluation at baseline and 8 weeks. Rectal swabs were processed with metagenomic DNA sequencing. We compared alpha diversity (inverse Simpson{\textquoteright}s index) at 8 weeks and evaluated relative abundance of microbial taxa using DESeq2. Of 109 children enrolled in the microbiome study, 95 were followed at 8 weeks. We found no evidence of a difference in alpha diversity between the azithromycin and amoxicillin groups at 8 weeks controlling for baseline diversity (mean difference -0.6, 95\% CI -1.8 to 0.6, P = 0.30). Gut microbiomes did not diversify during the study. Differentially abundant genera at the P \< 0.01 level included Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp., both of which were overabundant in the azithromycin compared with amoxicillin groups. We found no evidence to support an overall difference in gut microbiome diversity between azithromycin and amoxicillin among children with uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition, but potentially pathogenic bacteria that can cause invasive diarrhea were more common in the azithromycin group. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03568643.

}, issn = {1476-1645}, doi = {10.4269/ajtmh.22-0381}, author = {Oldenburg, Catherine E and Hinterwirth, Armin and Dah, Clarisse and Millogo, Ourohir{\'e} and Coulibaly, Boubacar and Ou{\'e}draogo, Moussa and Sie, Ali and Chen, Cindi and Zhong, Lina and Ruder, Kevin and Lebas, Elodie and Nyatigo, Fanice and Arnold, Benjamin F and O{\textquoteright}Brien, Kieran S and Doan, Thuy} } @article {1031, title = {Gut Resistome after Antibiotics among Children with Uncomplicated Severe Acute Malnutrition: A Randomized Controlled Trial.}, journal = {Am J Trop Med Hyg}, volume = {107}, year = {2022}, month = {2022 Jul 13}, pages = {59-64}, abstract = {

A broad-spectrum antibiotic, typically amoxicillin, is included in many country guidelines as part of the management of uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in children without overt clinical symptoms of infection. Alternative antibiotics may be beneficial for children with SAM without increasing selection for beta-lactam resistance. We conducted a 1:1 randomized controlled trial of single dose azithromycin versus a 7-day course of amoxicillin for SAM. Children 6-59 months of age with uncomplicated SAM (mid-upper arm circumference \< 11.5 cm and/or weight-for-height Z-score \< -3) were enrolled in Boromo District, Burkina Faso, from June through October 2020. Rectal swabs were collected at baseline and 8 weeks after treatment and processed using DNA-Seq. We compared the resistome at the class level in children randomized to azithromycin compared with amoxicillin. We found no evidence of a difference in the distribution of genetic antibiotic resistance determinants to any antibiotic class 8 weeks after treatment. There was no difference in genetic macrolide resistance determinants (65\% azithromycin, 65\% placebo, odds ratio, OR, 1.00, 95\% confidence interval, CI, 0.43-2.34) or beta-lactam resistance determinants (82\% azithromycin, 83\% amoxicillin, OR 0.94, 95\% CI, 0.33-2.68) at 8 weeks. Although presence of genetic antibiotic resistance determinants to macrolides and beta-lactams was common, we found no evidence of a difference in the gut resistome 8 weeks after treatment. If there are earlier effects of antibiotics on selection for genetic antibiotic resistance determinants, the resistome may normalize by 8 weeks.

}, keywords = {Amoxicillin, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Azithromycin, Child, Drug Resistance, Bacterial, Humans, Macrolides, Severe Acute Malnutrition}, issn = {1476-1645}, doi = {10.4269/ajtmh.22-0007}, author = {Oldenburg, Catherine E and Hinterwirth, Armin and Ourohir{\'e}, Millogo and Dah, Clarisse and Ou{\'e}draogo, Moussa and Sie, Ali and Boudo, Valentin and Chen, Cindi and Ruder, Kevin and Zhong, Lina and Lebas, Elodie and Nyatigo, Fanice and Arnold, Benjamin F and O{\textquoteright}Brien, Kieran S and Doan, Thuy} } @article {1006, title = {Neonatal azithromycin administration for prevention of infant mortality.}, journal = {NEJM Evid}, volume = {1}, year = {2022}, month = {2022 Apr}, pages = {EVIDoa2100054}, abstract = {

Background: Biannual mass azithromycin administration reduces all-cause childhood mortality in some sub-Saharan African settings, with the largest effects in children aged 1-5 months. Azithromycin has not been distributed to children \<1 month due to risk of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS).

Methods: This 1:1 placebo-controlled trial, randomized neonates aged 8-27 days to a single oral dose of azithromycin (20 mg/kg) or equivalent volume of placebo in 5 regions of Burkina Faso during 2019 and 2020. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at 6 months of age. Infants were evaluated at 21 days after treatment and at 3 and 6 months of age for vital status; family and provider surveillance for IHPS continued throughout.

Results: Of 21,832 enrolled neonates, 10,898 were allocated to azithromycin and 10,934 to placebo. At 6 months of age, 92 infants had died, 42 (0.44\%) in the azithromycin group and 50 (0.52\%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0.85, 95\% confidence interval 0.56 to 1.28, =0.46). A single IHPS case was detected, which was in the azithromycin arm. Serious adverse events, including death and hospitalization within 28 days of treatment, occurred in 0.27\% of infants in the azithromycin group and 0.14\% in the placebo group, for an absolute risk difference 0.14 percentage points, 95\% confidence interval 0.01 to 0.26.

Conclusions: Overall mortality was lower than anticipated when the trial was designed, thus limiting its power. The available data do not support the routine use of azithromycin for prevention of mortality in neonates in sub-Saharan African settings similar to the one in which this trial was conducted.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03682653.

}, issn = {2766-5526}, doi = {10.1056/EVIDoa2100054}, author = {Oldenburg, Catherine E and Sie, Ali and Bountogo, Mamadou and Zakane, Alphonse and Compaor{\'e}, Guillaume and Ouedraogo, Thierry and Koueta, Fla and Lebas, Elodie and Brogdon, Jessica and Nyatigo, Fanice and Doan, Thuy and Porco, Travis C and Arnold, Benjamin F and Lietman, Thomas M} } @article {911, title = {Age-based targeting of biannual azithromycin distribution for child survival in Niger: an adaptive cluster-randomized trial protocol (AVENIR).}, journal = {BMC Public Health}, volume = {21}, year = {2021}, month = {2021 04 29}, pages = {822}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Biannual distribution of azithromycin to children 1-59 months old reduced mortality by 14\% in a cluster-randomized trial. The World Health Organization has proposed targeting this intervention to the subgroup of children 1-11 months old to reduce selection for antimicrobial resistance. Here, we describe a trial designed to determine the impact of age-based targeting of biannual azithromycin on mortality and antimicrobial resistance.

METHODS: AVENIR is a cluster-randomized, placebo-controlled, double-masked, response-adaptive large simple trial in Niger. During the 2.5-year study period, 3350 communities are targeted for enrollment. In the first year, communities in the Dosso region will be randomized 1:1:1 to 1) azithromycin 1-11: biannual azithromycin to children 1-11 months old with placebo to children 12-59 months old, 2) azithromycin 1-59: biannual azithromycin to children 1-59 months old, or 3) placebo: biannual placebo to children 1-59 months old. Regions enrolled after the first year will be randomized with an updated allocation based on the probability of mortality in children 1-59 months in each arm during the preceding study period. A biannual door-to-door census will be conducted to enumerate the population, distribute azithromycin and placebo, and monitor vital status. Primary mortality outcomes are defined as all-cause mortality rate (deaths per 1000 person-years) after 2.5 years from the first enrollment in 1) children 1-59 months old comparing the azithromycin 1-59 and placebo arms, 2) children 1-11 months old comparing the azithromycin 1-11 and placebo arm, and 3) children 12-59 months in the azithromycin 1-11 and azithromycin 1-59 arms. In the Dosso region, 50 communities from each arm will be followed to monitor antimicrobial resistance. Primary resistance outcomes will be assessed after 2 years of distributions and include 1) prevalence of genetic determinants of macrolide resistance in nasopharyngeal samples from children 1-59 months old, and 2) load of genetic determinants of macrolide resistance in rectal samples from children 1-59 months old.

DISCUSSION: As high-mortality settings consider this intervention, the results of this trial will provide evidence to support programmatic and policy decision-making on age-based strategies for azithromycin distribution to promote child survival.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered on January 13, 2020 (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04224987 ).

}, keywords = {Anti-Bacterial Agents, Azithromycin, Child, Child, Preschool, Drug Resistance, Bacterial, Humans, Infant, Macrolides, Mass Drug Administration, Niger, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic}, issn = {1471-2458}, doi = {10.1186/s12889-021-10824-7}, author = {O{\textquoteright}Brien, Kieran S and Arzika, Ahmed M and Amza, Abdou and Maliki, Ramatou and Ousmane, Sani and Kadri, Boubacar and Nassirou, Beido and Mankara, Alio Karamba and Harouna, Abdoul Naser and Colby, Emily and Lebas, Elodie and Liu, Zijun and Le, Victoria and Nguyen, William and Keenan, Jeremy D and Oldenburg, Catherine E and Porco, Travis C and Doan, Thuy and Arnold, Benjamin F and Lietman, Thomas M} } @article {866, title = {Effect of a single dose of oral azithromycin on malaria parasitaemia in children: a randomized controlled trial.}, journal = {Malar J}, volume = {20}, year = {2021}, month = {2021 Aug 31}, pages = {360}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Azithromycin has recently been shown to reduce all-cause childhood mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. One potential mechanism of this effect is via the anti-malarial effect of azithromycin, which may help treat or prevent malaria infection. This study evaluated short- and longer-term effects of azithromycin on malaria outcomes in children.

METHODS: Children aged 8 days to 59 months were randomized in a 1:1 fashion to a single oral dose of azithromycin (20\ mg/kg) or matching placebo. Children were evaluated for malaria via thin and thick smear and rapid diagnostic test (for those with tympanic temperature >= 37.5\ {\textdegree}C) at baseline and 14 days and 6 months after treatment. Malaria outcomes in children receiving azithromycin versus placebo were compared at each follow-up timepoint separately.

RESULTS: Of 450 children enrolled, 230 were randomized to azithromycin and 220 to placebo. Children were a median of 26 months and 51\% were female, and 17\% were positive for malaria parasitaemia at baseline. There was no evidence of a difference in malaria parasitaemia at 14 days or 6 months after treatment. In the azithromycin arm, 20\% of children were positive for parasitaemia at 14 days compared to 17\% in the placebo arm (P = 0.43) and 7.6\% vs. 5.6\% in the azithromycin compared to placebo arms at 6 months (P = 0.47).

CONCLUSIONS: Azithromycin did not affect malaria outcomes in this study, possibly due to the individually randomized nature of the trial. Trial registration\ This study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03676751; registered 19 September 2018).

}, issn = {1475-2875}, doi = {10.1186/s12936-021-03895-9}, author = {Coulibaly, Boubacar and Sie, Ali and Dah, Clarisse and Bountogo, Mamadou and Ouattara, Mamadou and Compaor{\'e}, Adama and Nikiema, Moustapha and Tiansi, J{\'e}r{\^o}me Nankon{\'e} and Sibiri, Nestor Demb{\'e}l{\'e} and Brogdon, Jessica M and Lebas, Elodie and Doan, Thuy and Porco, Travis C and Lietman, Thomas M and Oldenburg, Catherine E} } @article {851, title = {Effect of Oral Azithromycin vs Placebo on COVID-19 Symptoms in Outpatients With SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Randomized Clinical Trial.}, journal = {JAMA}, year = {2021}, month = {2021 Jul 16}, abstract = {

Importance: Azithromycin has been hypothesized to have activity against SARS-CoV-2.

Objective: To determine whether oral azithromycin in outpatients with SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to absence of self-reported COVID-19 symptoms at day 14.

Design, Setting, and Participants: Randomized clinical trial of azithromycin vs matching placebo conducted from May 2020 through March 2021. Outpatients from the US were enrolled remotely via internet-based surveys and followed up for 21 days. Eligible participants had a positive SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic test result (nucleic acid amplification or antigen) within 7 days prior to enrollment, were aged 18 years or older, and were not hospitalized at the time of enrollment. Among 604 individuals screened, 297 were ineligible, 44 refused participation, and 263 were enrolled. Participants, investigators, and study staff were masked to treatment randomization.

Interventions: Participants were randomized in a 2:1 fashion to a single oral 1.2-g dose of azithromycin (n = 171) or matching placebo (n = 92).

Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was absence of self-reported COVID-19 symptoms at day 14. There were 23 secondary clinical end points, including all-cause hospitalization at day 21.

Results: Among 263 participants who were randomized (median age, 43 years; 174 [66\%] women; 57\% non-Hispanic White and 29\% Latinx/Hispanic), 76\% completed the trial. The trial was terminated by the data and safety monitoring committee for futility after the interim analysis. At day 14, there was no significant difference in proportion of participants who were symptom free (azithromycin: 50\%; placebo: 50\%; prevalence difference, 0\%; 95\% CI, -14\% to 15\%; P \> .99). Of 23 prespecified secondary clinical end points, 18 showed no significant difference. By day 21, 5 participants in the azithromycin group had been hospitalized compared with 0 in the placebo group (prevalence difference, 4\%; 95\% CI, -1\% to 9\%; P = .16).

Conclusions and Relevance: Among outpatients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, treatment with a single dose of azithromycin compared with placebo did not result in greater likelihood of being symptom free at day 14. These findings do not support the routine use of azithromycin for outpatient SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04332107.

}, issn = {1538-3598}, doi = {10.1001/jama.2021.11517}, author = {Oldenburg, Catherine E and Pinsky, Benjamin A and Brogdon, Jessica and Chen, Cindi and Ruder, Kevin and Zhong, Lina and Nyatigo, Fanice and Cook, Catherine A and Hinterwirth, Armin and Lebas, Elodie and Redd, Travis and Porco, Travis C and Lietman, Thomas M and Arnold, Benjamin F and Doan, Thuy} } @article {821, title = {Gut resistome of preschool children after prolonged mass azithromycin distribution: a cluster-randomized trial.}, journal = {Clin Infect Dis}, year = {2021}, month = {2021 May 26}, abstract = {

We evaluated the gut resistome of children from communities treated with 10 twice-yearly azithromycin distributions. While the macrolide resistance remained higher in the azithromycin arm, the selection of non-macrolide resistance observed at earlier time points did not persist. Longitudinal resistance monitoring should be a critical component of mass distribution programs.

}, issn = {1537-6591}, doi = {10.1093/cid/ciab485}, author = {Arzika, Ahmed M and Maliki, Ramatou and Abdou, Amza and Mankara, Alio K and Harouna, Abdoul N and Cook, Catherine and Hinterwirth, Armin and Worden, Lee and Zhong, Lina and Chen, Cindi and Ruder, Kevin and Zhou, Zhaoxia and Lebas, Elodie and O{\textquoteright}Brien, Kieran S and Oldenburg, Catherine E and Le, Victoria and Arnold, Benjamin F and Porco, Travis and Keenan, Jeremy D and Lietman, Thomas M and Doan, Thuy} } @article {776, title = {Poultry Ownership and Genetic Antibiotic Resistance Determinants in the Gut of Preschool Children.}, journal = {Am J Trop Med Hyg}, year = {2021}, month = {2021 Mar 22}, abstract = {

Zoonotic transmission is likely a pathway for antibiotic resistance. Data from a randomized trial of pediatric antibiotic administration were secondarily evaluated to determine if poultry ownership was significantly associated with the presence of gut genetic antibiotic resistance determinants among 118 children in Burkina Faso. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determinants were classified using DNA sequencing. We measured the relationship between genetic resistance determinants and chicken ownership using a logistic regression model adjusted for confounding variables. Children in households reporting poultry ownership had four times the odds of tetracycline resistance determinants in the gut compared with those without household poultry (OR: 4.08, 95\% CI: 1.08-15.44, P = 0.04). There was no statistically significant difference found for other antibiotic classes. Understanding the origins of antibiotic resistance may help spur the development of interventions to combat the global AMR crisis.

}, issn = {1476-1645}, doi = {10.4269/ajtmh.20-1384}, author = {Brogdon, Jessica M and Sie, Ali and Dah, N Clarisse and Ouermi, Lucienne and Coulibaly, Boubacar and Lebas, Elodie and Zhong, Lina and Chen, Cindi and Lietman, Thomas M and Keenan, Jeremy D and Doan, Thuy and Oldenburg, Catherine E} } @article {781, title = {Single-dose azithromycin for child growth in Burkina Faso: a randomized controlled trial.}, journal = {BMC Pediatr}, volume = {21}, year = {2021}, month = {2021 Mar 17}, pages = {130}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: In lower resource settings, previous randomized controlled trials have demonstrated evidence of increased weight gain following antibiotic administration in children with acute illness. We conducted an individually randomized trial to assess whether single dose azithromycin treatment causes weight gain in a general population sample of children in Burkina Faso.

METHODS: Children aged 8 days to 59 months were enrolled in November 2019 and followed through June 2020 in Nouna Town, Burkina Faso. Participants were randomly assigned to a single oral dose of azithromycin (20 mg/kg) or matching placebo. Anthropometric measurements were collected at baseline and 14 days and 6 months after enrollment. The primary anthropometric outcome was weight gain velocity in g/kg/day from baseline to 14 days and 6 months in separate linear regression models.

RESULTS: Of 450 enrolled children, 230 were randomly assigned to azithromycin and 220 to placebo. Median age was 26 months (IQR 16 to 38 months) and 51\% were female. At 14 days, children in the azithromycin arm gained a mean difference of 0.9 g/kg/day (95\% CI 0.2 to 1.6 g/kg/day, P = 0.01) more than children in the placebo arm. There was no difference in weight gain velocity in children receiving azithromycin compared to placebo at 6 months (mean difference 0.04 g/kg/day, 95\% CI - 0.05 to 0.13 g/kg/day, P = 0.46). There were no significant differences in other anthropometric outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS: Transient increases in weight gain were observed after oral azithromycin treatment, which may provide short-term benefits.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03676751 . Registered 19/09/2018.

}, issn = {1471-2431}, doi = {10.1186/s12887-021-02601-7}, author = {Sie, Ali and Coulibaly, Boubacar and Dah, Clarisse and Bountogo, Mamadou and Ouattara, Mamadou and Compaor{\'e}, Guillaume and Brogdon, Jessica M and Godwin, William W and Lebas, Elodie and Doan, Thuy and Arnold, Benjamin F and Porco, Travis C and Lietman, Thomas M and Oldenburg, Catherine E} } @article {216, title = {Adverse Events and Clinic Visits following a Single Dose of Oral Azithromycin among Preschool Children: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.}, journal = {Am J Trop Med Hyg}, year = {2020}, month = {2020 Dec 21}, abstract = {

Biannual mass azithromycin distribution reduces all-cause child mortality in some settings in sub-Saharan Africa; however, adverse events and short-term infectious outcomes following treatment have not been well characterized. Children aged 0-59 months were recruited in Nouna Town, Burkina Faso, and randomized 1:1 to a single directly observed oral 20 mg/kg dose of azithromycin or placebo. At 14 days after treatment, caregivers were interviewed about adverse event symptoms their child experienced since treatment and if they had sought health care for their child. All children had tympanic temperature measured at the 14-day visit. We compared adverse events and clinic visits using logistic regression models between azithromycin- and placebo-controlled children. Of 450 children enrolled, 230 were randomized to azithromycin and 220 to placebo. On average, children were aged 28 months, and 50.9\% were female. Caregivers of 20\% of children reported that their child experienced at least one adverse event, with no significant difference between study arms (19.9\% azithromycin; 20.0\% placebo, logistic regression = 0.96). Vomiting was more often reported by caregivers of azithromycin-treated children than by those of placebo-treated children (7.2\% azithromycin, 1.9\% placebo, logistic regression = 0.01). There were no significant differences in other adverse events or clinic visits. Adverse events following a single oral dose of azithromycin in preschool children were rare and mild. Azithromycin administration appears safe in this population.

}, issn = {1476-1645}, doi = {10.4269/ajtmh.20-1002}, author = {Sie, Ali and Dah, Clarisse and Bountogo, Mamadou and Ouattara, Mamadou and Nebie, Eric and Coulibaly, Boubacar and Brogdon, Jessica M and Godwin, William W and Lebas, Elodie and Doan, Thuy and Arnold, Benjamin F and Porco, Travis C and Lietman, Thomas M and Oldenburg, Catherine E} } @article {46, title = {Azithromycin for severe COVID-19.}, journal = {Lancet}, volume = {396}, year = {2020}, month = {2020 10 03}, pages = {936-937}, keywords = {Azithromycin, Betacoronavirus, Brazil, Coronavirus Infections, COVID-19, Humans, Pandemics, Pneumonia, Viral, SARS-CoV-2, Standard of Care}, issn = {1474-547X}, doi = {10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31863-8}, author = {Oldenburg, Catherine E and Doan, Thuy} } @article {161, title = {Gut Bacterial Diversity and Growth among Preschool Children in Burkina Faso.}, journal = {Am J Trop Med Hyg}, volume = {103}, year = {2020}, month = {2020 12}, pages = {2568-2573}, abstract = {

There is a lack of empirical, prospective human data on the gut microbiome and its relationship with growth, especially in low- and middle-income countries. We prospectively assessed the association between gut microbial diversity and short-term growth in a cohort of preschool children in Burkina Faso to better characterize whether there is any evidence that changes in gut microbial diversity may affect growth. Data were obtained from a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of antibiotic administration on gut microbial diversity in preschool children. We followed up the enrolled children for 35 days, with anthropometric measurements at baseline and day 35 and microbial diversity measured at baseline and day 9 (analytic sample, = 155). We estimated linear mixed-effects regression models with household random intercepts to assess the association of Simpson{\textquoteright}s and Shannon{\textquoteright}s alpha diversity with measures of change in anthropometry (e.g., ponderal growth since baseline) and absolute anthropometric measurements (e.g., day 35 weight). We did not find evidence that alpha gut microbial diversity was associated with growth or absolute anthropometric measurements after adjusting for confounding variables. Effect estimates were close to the null ( >= 0.15 for all fully adjusted comparisons), with the association between Simpson{\textquoteright}s alpha diversity and day 35 height (cm) farthest from the null (coefficient = -0.03, 95\% CI: -0.07, 0.01). The change in gut microbial diversity also was not associated with the change in anthropometry in crude or adjusted models. Future research is needed to explore whether gut diversity has an impact on growth over a longer time period, in both healthy and malnourished children.

}, keywords = {Anti-Bacterial Agents, Bacteria, Burkina Faso, Child Development, Child, Preschool, Female, Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Humans, Infant, Male, Nutritional Status, Prospective Studies}, issn = {1476-1645}, doi = {10.4269/ajtmh.20-0059}, author = {Digitale, Jean and Sie, Ali and Coulibaly, Boubacar and Ouermi, Lucienne and Dah, Clarisse and Tapsoba, Charlemagne and B{\"a}rnighausen, Till and Lebas, Elodie and Arzika, Ahmed M and Glymour, Medellena Maria and Keenan, Jeremy D and Doan, Thuy and Oldenburg, Catherine E} } @article {171, title = {Gut Resistome After Oral Antibiotics in Preschool Children in Burkina Faso: A Randomized, Controlled Trial.}, journal = {Clin Infect Dis}, volume = {70}, year = {2020}, month = {2020 01 16}, pages = {525-527}, abstract = {

We evaluated the effect of systemic antibiotics (azithromycin, amoxicillin, cotrimoxazole, or placebo) on the gut resistome in children aged 6 to 59 months. Azithromycin and cotrimoxazole led to an increase in macrolide and sulfonamide resistance determinants. Resistome expansion can be induced with a single course of antibiotics.

}, keywords = {Anti-Bacterial Agents, Azithromycin, Burkina Faso, Child, Preschool, Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Humans, Infant, Macrolides}, issn = {1537-6591}, doi = {10.1093/cid/ciz455}, author = {Oldenburg, Catherine E and Hinterwirth, Armin and Sie, Ali and Coulibaly, Boubacar and Ouermi, Lucienne and Dah, Clarisse and Tapsoba, Charlemagne and Cummings, Susie L and Zhong, Lina and Chen, Cindi and Sarkar, Samarpita and B{\"a}rnighausen, Till and Lietman, Thomas M and Keenan, Jeremy D and Doan, Thuy} } @article {201, title = {Indirect effect of oral azithromycin on the gut resistome of untreated children: a randomized controlled trial.}, journal = {Int Health}, year = {2020}, month = {2020 Jun 17}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic use by one individual may affect selection for antimicrobial resistance in close contacts. Here we evaluated whether oral antibiotic treatment of one child within a household affected the gut resistome of an untreated cohabiting child.

METHODS: Households with at least two children \<5\ y of age were randomized in a 1:1 fashion to a 5d course of azithromycin or placebo. To evaluate indirect effects of azithromycin treatment on the gut resistome, we randomly assigned one child in the house to azithromycin and one to placebo. In placebo households, each child received placebo. We performed DNA sequencing of rectal swabs collected 5\ d after the last antibiotic dose. We estimated risk ratios for the presence of genetic resistance determinants at the class level using modified Poisson models for children in azithromycin households compared with placebo households and assessed the composition of the resistome using permutational analysis of variance (PERMANOVA).

RESULTS: Of 58 children (n = 30 azithromycin households, n = 28 placebo households) with post-treatment rectal swabs, genetic resistance determinants were common but there was no significant difference at the class (p = 0.54 for macrolides) or gene (p = 0.94 for structure by PERMANOVA, p = 0.94 for diversity) level between untreated children in azithromycin households compared with placebo households.

CONCLUSIONS: The results are encouraging that one child{\textquoteright}s antibiotic use may not influence the resistome of another child. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03187834.

}, issn = {1876-3405}, doi = {10.1093/inthealth/ihaa029}, author = {Oldenburg, Catherine E and Hinterwirth, Armin and Worden, Lee and Sie, Ali and Dah, Clarisse and Ouermi, Lucienne and Coulibaly, Boubacar and Zhong, Lina and Chen, Cindi and Ruder, Kevin and Lietman, Thomas M and Keenan, Jeremy D and Doan, Thuy} } @article {71, title = {Macrolide and Nonmacrolide Resistance with Mass Azithromycin Distribution.}, journal = {N Engl J Med}, volume = {383}, year = {2020}, month = {2020 11 12}, pages = {1941-1950}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Mass distribution of azithromycin to preschool children twice yearly for 2 years has been shown to reduce childhood mortality in sub-Saharan Africa but at the cost of amplifying macrolide resistance. The effects on the gut resistome, a reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genes in the body, of twice-yearly administration of azithromycin for a longer period are unclear.

METHODS: We investigated the gut resistome of children after they received twice-yearly distributions of azithromycin for 4 years. In the Niger site of the MORDOR trial, we enrolled 30 villages in a concurrent trial in which they were randomly assigned to receive mass distribution of either azithromycin or placebo, offered to all children 1 to 59 months of age every 6 months for 4 years. Rectal swabs were collected at baseline, 36 months, and 48 months for analysis of the participants{\textquoteright} gut resistome. The primary outcome was the ratio of macrolide-resistance determinants in the azithromycin group to those in the placebo group at 48 months.

RESULTS: Over the entire 48-month period, the mean ({\textpm}SD) coverage was 86.6{\textpm}12\% in the villages that received placebo and 83.2{\textpm}16.4\% in the villages that received azithromycin. A total of 3232 samples were collected during the entire trial period; of the samples obtained at the 48-month monitoring visit, 546 samples from 15 villages that received placebo and 504 from 14 villages that received azithromycin were analyzed. Determinants of macrolide resistance were higher in the azithromycin group than in the placebo group: 7.4 times as high (95\% confidence interval [CI], 4.0 to 16.7) at 36 months and 7.5 times as high (95\% CI, 3.8 to 23.1) at 48 months. Continued mass azithromycin distributions also selected for determinants of nonmacrolide resistance, including resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics, an antibiotic class prescribed frequently in this region of Africa.

CONCLUSIONS: Among villages assigned to receive mass distributions of azithromycin or placebo twice yearly for 4 years, antibiotic resistance was more common in the villages that received azithromycin than in those that received placebo. This trial showed that mass azithromycin distributions may propagate antibiotic resistance. (Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02047981.).

}, keywords = {Anti-Bacterial Agents, Azithromycin, Child Mortality, Child, Preschool, Drug Resistance, Bacterial, Female, Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Humans, Infant, Macrolides, Male, Mass Drug Administration, Metagenome, Niger, Sequence Analysis, DNA}, issn = {1533-4406}, doi = {10.1056/NEJMoa2002606}, author = {Doan, Thuy and Worden, Lee and Hinterwirth, Armin and Arzika, Ahmed M and Maliki, Ramatou and Abdou, Amza and Zhong, Lina and Chen, Cindi and Cook, Catherine and Lebas, Elodie and O{\textquoteright}Brien, Kieran S and Oldenburg, Catherine E and Chow, Eric D and Porco, Travis C and Lipsitch, Marc and Keenan, Jeremy D and Lietman, Thomas M} } @article {206, title = {Rapid Reduction of Species in the Gut Microbiome of Preschool Children after Oral Azithromycin: A Randomized Controlled Trial.}, journal = {Am J Trop Med Hyg}, volume = {103}, year = {2020}, month = {2020 09}, pages = {1266-1269}, abstract = {

has emerged as a potential important cause of childhood morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa. Biannual mass azithromycin distribution has previously been shown to reduce all-cause child mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. We conducted a randomized controlled trial in Burkina Faso in which children were randomized in a 1:1 fashion to a 5-day course of azithromycin or placebo to investigate the effect of oral antibiotics on the gut microbiome. We evaluated the changes in the gut microbiome of preschool children treated with azithromycin using metagenomic DNA sequencing. We found that three species were reduced with azithromycin treatment compared with placebo. These results were consistent with other studies that have shown decreases in species after azithromycin treatment, generating the hypothesis that a decrease in may contribute to observations of reduction in mortality following azithromycin distribution.

}, keywords = {Anti-Bacterial Agents, Azithromycin, Burkina Faso, Campylobacter, Campylobacter Infections, Child Mortality, Child, Preschool, Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Humans, Infant, Metagenomics, Sequence Analysis, DNA}, issn = {1476-1645}, doi = {10.4269/ajtmh.19-0940}, author = {Hinterwirth, Armin and Sie, Ali and Coulibaly, Boubacar and Ouermi, Lucienne and Dah, Clarisse and Tapsoba, Charlemagne and Zhong, Lina and Chen, Cindi and Lietman, Thomas M and Keenan, Jeremy D and Doan, Thuy and Oldenburg, Catherine E} } @article {106, title = {Reduction of Coronavirus Burden With Mass Azithromycin Distribution.}, journal = {Clin Infect Dis}, volume = {71}, year = {2020}, month = {2020 11 19}, pages = {2282-2284}, abstract = {

We evaluated the potential antiviral effects of azithromycin on the nasopharyngeal virome of Nigerien children who had received multiple rounds of mass drug administration. We found that the respiratory burden of non-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses was decreased with azithromycin distributions. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT02047981.

}, keywords = {Administration, Oral, Antiviral Agents, Azithromycin, Child, Preschool, Coronavirus, Coronavirus Infections, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Mass Drug Administration, Nasopharynx, Nigeria, Viral Load}, issn = {1537-6591}, doi = {10.1093/cid/ciaa606}, author = {Doan, Thuy and Hinterwirth, Armin and Arzika, Ahmed M and Worden, Lee and Chen, Cindi and Zhong, Lina and Oldenburg, Catherine E and Keenan, Jeremy D and Lietman, Thomas M} } @article {36, title = {Rigorous Randomized Controlled Trial Implementation in the Era of COVID-19.}, journal = {Am J Trop Med Hyg}, volume = {102}, year = {2020}, month = {2020 06}, pages = {1154-1155}, keywords = {Antiviral Agents, Azithromycin, Betacoronavirus, Clinical Laboratory Techniques, Coronavirus Infections, COVID-19, COVID-19 Testing, Drug Repositioning, Humans, Hydroxychloroquine, Lopinavir, Pandemics, Pneumonia, Viral, Practice Guidelines as Topic, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Ritonavir, Sample Size, SARS-CoV-2, United States}, issn = {1476-1645}, doi = {10.4269/ajtmh.20-0262}, author = {Oldenburg, Catherine E and Doan, Thuy} } @article {231, title = {A double-masked placebo-controlled trial of azithromycin to prevent child mortality in Burkina Faso, West Africa: Community Health with Azithromycin Trial (CHAT) study protocol.}, journal = {Trials}, volume = {20}, year = {2019}, month = {2019 Dec 04}, pages = {675}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Biannual, mass azithromycin distribution has previously been shown to reduce all-cause child mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Subgroup analysis suggested that the strongest effects were in the youngest children, leading to the hypothesis that targeting younger age groups might be an effective strategy to prevent mortality. We present the methods of two randomized controlled trials designed to evaluate mass and targeted azithromycin distribution for the prevention of child mortality in Burkina Faso, West Africa.

METHODS/DESIGN: The Child Health with Azithromycin Treatment (CHAT) study consists of two nested, randomized controlled trials. In the first, communities are randomized in a 1:1 fashion to biannual, mass azithromycin distribution or placebo. The primary outcome is under-5 all-cause mortality measured at the community level. In the second, children attending primary healthcare facilities during the first 5-12 weeks of life for a healthy child visit (e.g., for vaccination) are randomized in a 1:1 fashion to a single orally administered dose of azithromycin or placebo. The primary outcome is all-cause mortality measured at 6 months of age. The trial commenced enrollment in August 2019.

DISCUSSION: This study is expected to provide evidence on two health systems delivery approaches (mass and targeted treatment) for azithromycin to prevent all-cause child mortality. The results will inform global and national policies related to azithromycin for the prevention of child mortality.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03676764. Registered on 19 September 2018; prospectively registered pre results.

}, keywords = {Anti-Bacterial Agents, Azithromycin, Child Mortality, Child, Preschool, Double-Blind Method, Humans, Infant, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Sample Size}, issn = {1745-6215}, doi = {10.1186/s13063-019-3855-9}, author = {Sie, Ali and Ouattara, Mamadou and Bountogo, Mamadou and Bagagnan, Cheik and Coulibaly, Boubacar and Boudo, Valentin and Lebas, Elodie and Brogdon, Jessica M and Lin, Ying and B{\"a}rnighausen, Till and Porco, Travis C and Doan, Thuy and Lietman, Thomas M and Oldenburg, Catherine E} } @article {196, title = {Indirect Effect of Azithromycin Use on the Intestinal Microbiome Diversity of Untreated Children: A Randomized Trial.}, journal = {Open Forum Infect Dis}, volume = {6}, year = {2019}, month = {2019 Mar}, pages = {ofz061}, abstract = {

Cohabiting children may share components of their intestinal microbiome. We evaluated whether receipt of azithromycin in one sibling confers changes to the intestinal microbiome in an untreated sibling compared with placebo in a randomized controlled trial. We found no evidence of an indirect effect of antibiotic use in cohabiting children. NCT03187834.

}, issn = {2328-8957}, doi = {10.1093/ofid/ofz061}, author = {Oldenburg, Catherine E and Sie, Ali and Coulibaly, Boubacar and Ouermi, Lucienne and Dah, Clarisse and Tapsoba, Charlemagne and B{\"a}rnighausen, Till and Lebas, Elodie and Arzika, Ahmed M and Cummings, Susie and Zhong, Lina and Lietman, Thomas M and Keenan, Jeremy D and Doan, Thuy} } @article {121, title = {Longer-Term Assessment of Azithromycin for Reducing Childhood Mortality in Africa.}, journal = {N Engl J Med}, volume = {380}, year = {2019}, month = {2019 Jun 06}, pages = {2207-2214}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: The MORDOR I trial (Macrolides Oraux pour R{\'e}duire les D{\'e}c{\`e}s avec un Oeil sur la R{\'e}sistance) showed that in Niger, mass administration of azithromycin twice a year for 2 years resulted in 18\% lower postneonatal childhood mortality than administration of placebo. Whether this benefit could increase with each administration or wane owing to antibiotic resistance was unknown.

METHODS: In the Niger component of the MORDOR I trial, we randomly assigned 594 communities to four twice-yearly distributions of either azithromycin or placebo to children 1 to 59 months of age. In MORDOR II, all these communities received two additional open-label azithromycin distributions. All-cause mortality was assessed twice yearly by census workers who were unaware of participants{\textquoteright} original assignments.

RESULTS: In the MORDOR II trial, the mean ({\textpm}SD) azithromycin coverage was 91.3{\textpm}7.2\% in the communities that received twice-yearly azithromycin for the first time (i.e., had received placebo for 2 years in MORDOR I) and 92.0{\textpm}6.6\% in communities that received azithromycin for the third year (i.e., had received azithromycin for 2 years in MORDOR I). In MORDOR II, mortality was 24.0 per 1000 person-years (95\% confidence interval [CI], 22.1 to 26.3) in communities that had originally received placebo in the first year and 23.3 per 1000 person-years (95\% CI, 21.4 to 25.5) in those that had originally received azithromycin in the first year, with no significant difference between groups (P = 0.55). In communities that had originally received placebo, mortality decreased by 13.3\% (95\% CI, 5.8 to 20.2) when the communities received azithromycin (P = 0.007). In communities that had originally received azithromycin and continued receiving it for an additional year, the difference in mortality between the third year and the first 2 years was not significant (-3.6\%; 95\% CI, -12.3 to 4.5; P = 0.50).

CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence that the effect of mass administration of azithromycin on childhood mortality in Niger waned in the third year of treatment. Childhood mortality decreased when communities that had originally received placebo received azithromycin. (Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02047981.).

}, keywords = {Anti-Bacterial Agents, Azithromycin, Child Mortality, Child, Preschool, Drug Administration Schedule, Female, Humans, Infant, Infant Mortality, Male, Mass Drug Administration, Niger}, issn = {1533-4406}, doi = {10.1056/NEJMoa1817213}, author = {Keenan, Jeremy D and Arzika, Ahmed M and Maliki, Ramatou and Boubacar, Nameywa and Elh Adamou, Sanoussi and Moussa Ali, Maria and Cook, Catherine and Lebas, Elodie and Lin, Ying and Ray, Kathryn J and O{\textquoteright}Brien, Kieran S and Doan, Thuy and Oldenburg, Catherine E and Callahan, E Kelly and Emerson, Paul M and Porco, Travis C and Lietman, Thomas M} } @article {131, title = {Neonatal azithromycin administration to prevent infant mortality: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.}, journal = {BMJ Open}, volume = {9}, year = {2019}, month = {2019 09 04}, pages = {e031162}, abstract = {

INTRODUCTION: Biannual mass azithromycin distribution to children aged 1-59 months has been shown to reduce all-cause mortality. Children under 28 days of age were not treated in studies evaluating mass azithromycin distribution for child mortality due to concerns related to infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS). Here, we report the design of a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of administration of a single dose of oral azithromycin during the neonatal period.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The (NAITRE) study is a double-masked randomised placebo-controlled trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of a single dose of azithromycin (20 mg/kg) for the prevention of child mortality. Newborns (n=21 712) aged 8-27 days weighing at least 2500 g are 1:1 randomised to a single, directly observed, oral dose of azithromycin or matching placebo. Participants are followed weekly for 3 weeks after treatment to screen for adverse events, including IHPS. The primary outcome is all-cause mortality at the 6-month study visit.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Boards at the University of California, San Francisco in San Francisco, USA (Protocol $\#$18-25027) and the Comit{\'e} National d{\textquoteright}Ethique pour la Recherche in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (Protocol $\#$2018-10-123). The findings of this trial will be presented at local, regional and international meetings and published in open access peer-reviewed journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03682653; Pre-results.

}, keywords = {Anti-Bacterial Agents, Azithromycin, Body Size, Body Weight, Child Development, Double-Blind Method, Humans, Infant, Infant Mortality, Infant, Newborn, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic}, issn = {2044-6055}, doi = {10.1136/bmjopen-2019-031162}, author = {Sie, Ali and Bountogo, Mamadou and Nebie, Eric and Ouattara, Mamadou and Coulibaly, Boubacar and Bagagnan, Cheik and Zabre, Pascal and Lebas, Elodie and Brogdon, Jessica and Godwin, William W and Lin, Ying and Porco, Travis and Doan, Thuy and Lietman, Thomas M and Oldenburg, Catherine E} } @article {261, title = {Effect of Commonly Used Pediatric Antibiotics on Gut Microbial Diversity in Preschool Children in Burkina Faso: A Randomized Clinical Trial.}, journal = {Open Forum Infect Dis}, volume = {5}, year = {2018}, month = {2018 Nov}, pages = {ofy289}, abstract = {

Background: Exposure to antibiotics may result in alterations to the composition of intestinal microbiota. However, few trials have been conducted, and observational studies are subject to confounding by indication. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to determine the effect of 3 commonly used pediatric antibiotics on the intestinal microbiome in healthy preschool children.

Methods: Children aged 6-59 months were randomized (1:1:1:1) to a 5-day course of 1 of 3 antibiotics, including amoxicillin (25 mg/kg/d twice-daily doses), azithromycin (10 mg/kg dose on day 1 and then 5 mg/kg once daily for 4 days), cotrimoxazole (240 mg once daily), or placebo. Rectal swabs were obtained at baseline and 5 days after the last dose and were processed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The prespecified primary outcome was inverse Simpson{\textquoteright}s α-diversity index.

Results: Post-treatment Simpson{\textquoteright}s diversity was significantly different across the 4 arms ( = .003). The mean Simpson{\textquoteright}s α-diversity among azithromycin-treated children was significantly lower than in placebo-treated children (6.6; 95\% confidence interval [CI], 5.5-7.8; vs 9.8; 95\% CI, 8.7-10.9; = .0001). Diversity in children treated with amoxicillin (8.3; 95\% CI, 7.0-9.6; = .09) or cotrimoxazole (8.3; 95\% CI, 8.2-9.7; = .08) was not significantly different than placebo.

Conclusions: Azithromycin affects the composition of the pediatric intestinal microbiome. The effect of amoxicillin and cotrimoxazole on microbiome composition was less clear.

Clinical Trials Registration: clinicaltrials.gov NCT03187834.

}, issn = {2328-8957}, doi = {10.1093/ofid/ofy289}, author = {Oldenburg, Catherine E and Sie, Ali and Coulibaly, Boubacar and Ouermi, Lucienne and Dah, Clarisse and Tapsoba, Charlemagne and B{\"a}rnighausen, Till and Ray, Kathryn J and Zhong, Lina and Cummings, Susie and Lebas, Elodie and Lietman, Thomas M and Keenan, Jeremy D and Doan, Thuy} } @article {221, title = {Mass Azithromycin Distribution and Community Microbiome: A Cluster-Randomized Trial.}, journal = {Open Forum Infect Dis}, volume = {5}, year = {2018}, month = {2018 Aug}, pages = {ofy182}, abstract = {

Background: Mass distributions of oral azithromycin have long been used to eliminate trachoma, and they are now being proposed to reduce childhood mortality. The observed benefit appears to be augmented with each additional treatment, suggesting a possible community-level effect. Here, we assess whether 2 biannual mass treatments of preschool children affect the community{\textquoteright}s gut microbiome at 6 months after the last distribution.

Methods: In this cluster-randomized controlled trial, children aged 1-60 months in the Dossa region of Niger were randomized at the village level to receive a single dose of azithromycin or placebo every 6 months. Fecal samples were collected 6 months after the second treatment for metagenomic deep sequencing. The prespecified primary outcome was the Euclidean PERMANOVA of the gut microbiome, or effectively the distance between the genus-level centroid at the community level, with the secondary outcome being the Simpson{\textquoteright}s α diversity.

Results: In the azithromycin arm, the gut microbial structures were significantly different than in the placebo arm (Euclidean PERMANOVA, \< .001). Further, the diversity of the gut microbiome in the azithromycin arm was significantly lower than in the placebo arm (inverse Simpson{\textquoteright}s index, = .005).

Conclusions: Two mass azithromycin administrations, 6 months apart, in preschool children led to long-term alterations of the gut microbiome structure and community diversity. Here, long-term microbial alterations in the community did not imply disease but were associated with an improvement in childhood mortality.

Clinical Trials Registration: NCT02048007.

}, issn = {2328-8957}, doi = {10.1093/ofid/ofy182}, author = {Doan, Thuy and Hinterwirth, Armin and Arzika, Ahmed M and Cotter, Sun Y and Ray, Kathryn J and O{\textquoteright}Brien, Kieran S and Zhong, Lina and Chow, Eric D and Zhou, Zhaoxia and Cummings, Susie L and Fry, Dionna and Oldenburg, Catherine E and Worden, Lee and Porco, Travis C and Keenan, Jeremy D and Lietman, Thomas M} }