Complexity of Plasmodium falciparum infections and antimalarial drug efficacy at 7 sites in Uganda

J Infect Dis. 2006 Apr 15;193(8):1160-3. doi: 10.1086/501473. Epub 2006 Mar 13.

Abstract

Malaria infections in Africa frequently include multiple parasite strains. We examined the relationship between the number of infecting Plasmodium falciparum strains and the responses to 3 different combination therapies in 3072 patients with uncomplicated malaria at 7 sites in Uganda. Patients infected with > or =3 strains had almost 3 times the odds of treatment failure (odds ratio, 2.93 [95% confidence interval, 2.51-3.43]; P<.001), compared with those infected with 1 or 2 strains. Our data suggest that efforts to reduce the complexity of infection in highly endemic areas through the use of intermittent presumptive therapy, improved case management, and reduction in transmission intensity may improve the efficacy of antimalarial therapies.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Antimalarials / administration & dosage*
  • Antimalarials / pharmacology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Malaria, Falciparum / drug therapy*
  • Middle Aged
  • Odds Ratio
  • Plasmodium falciparum / classification
  • Plasmodium falciparum / drug effects*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / pathogenicity
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Uganda

Substances

  • Antimalarials