Catie Oldenburg, ScD, MPH
Associate Professor, Proctor Foundation and Dept of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, UCSF
Mass azithromycin distribution has been conducted in trachoma-endemic communities for more than 25 years and has contributed to significant declines in the prevalence of trachoma worldwide. Azithromycin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic and may have benefits for child health beyond trachoma control. A landmark study published in 2018 demonstrated that twice-yearly distribution of azithromycin reduced child mortality in Niger, Malawi, and Tanzania by 13.5%, which raised questions related to when, where, how, and to whom azithromycin should be distributed to reduce child mortality. This seminar will review the evidence for azithromycin for reducing child mortality, including potential strategies for implementation and future research directions.