Azithromycin prophylaxis against a chloroquine-resistant strain of Plasmodium falciparum.
Azithromycin has antimalarial activity and favourable pharmacokinetic properties for a prophylactic antimalarial agent. We investigated the ability of azithromycin to prevent malaria in volunteers infected with a chloroquine-resistant strain of Plasmodium falciparum. 4 volunteers received oral azithromycin 500 mg followed by 250 mg daily for 7 further days. Subjects were infected on the third day of azithromycin. 3 subjects were protected compared with none of 15 controls. The volunteer not protected by azithromycin had unquantifiable plasma levels of azithromycin, probably because of poor absorption. Azithromycin could be a promising prophylactic agent for P falciparum malaria.
Kuschner
R A
RA
Division of Communicable Diseases, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, DC 20307.
Heppner
D G
DG
Andersen
S L
SL
Wellde
B T
BT
Hall
T
T
Schneider
I
I
Ballou
W R
WR
Foulds
G
G
Sadoff
J C
JC
Schuster
B
B
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010865:Pilot Projects
D017963:Azithromycin; D002738:Chloroquine