title: Azithromycin prophylaxis against a chloroquine-resistant strain of Plasmodium falciparum.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Communicable Diseases, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, DC 20307.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kuschner
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Heppner
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Wellde
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Ballou
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Foulds
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sadoff
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schuster
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D017963:Azithromycin; D002738:Chloroquine