zithromax and Fever-of-Unknown-Origin

We have recently completed a proof-of-concept trial showing that bacterial colonization decreased in women and newborns after the administration of azithromycin during labor. Here, we aim to assess the effect of the intervention on maternal and neonatal clinical infections.. This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial. Gambian women in labor were given either an oral dose of azithromycin (2 g) or placebo. Follow-up was conducted for 8 weeks after delivery.. From April 2013 to April 2014, we recruited 829 mothers and their 830 newborns. Sixteen infants died during the follow-up period (8 per arm). No maternal deaths or serious adverse events related to the intervention were reported. Maternal infections were lower in the azithromycin group (3.6% vs 9.2%; relative risk [RR], 0.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.22-0.71; P = .002), as was the prevalence of mastitis (1.4% vs 5.1%; RR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.12-0.70; P = .005) and fever (1.9% vs 5.8%; RR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.15-0.74; P = .006). Among newborns, the overall prevalence of infections was also lower in the azithromycin group (18.1% vs 23.8%; RR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.58-0.99; P = .052) and there was a marked difference in prevalence of skin infections (3.1% vs 6.4%; RR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.25-0.93; P = .034).. Azithromycin given to women in labor decreases infections in both women and newborns during the puerperal period. Larger studies designed to evaluate the effect of the intervention on severe morbidity and mortality are warranted.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Azithromycin; Bacterial Infections; Carrier State; Developing Countries; Double-Blind Method; Female; Fever of Unknown Origin; Gambia; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Mastitis; Pneumococcal Infections; Pregnancy; Puerperal Infection; Skin Diseases, Bacterial; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcal Infections; Streptococcus agalactiae

Acute febrile illness is the most common cause of outpatient attendance and mortality for children in Africa. Malaria and bacterial disease are difficult to differentiate with limited diagnostic facilities. Combinations of antibiotics and antimalarials are potentially attractive for treatment of the syndrome. Azithromycin plus artesunate (AT+AS) is an effective antimalarial combination for adults in Asia.. We performed an individually randomized, open-label trial of AZ+AS versus artemether-lumefantrine (AL) involving children (age, 6-59 months) with uncomplicated malaria in Muheza, Tanzania. The primary outcome was parasitological failure by day 28. Parasitological failure by day 42 and failure corrected for reinfection were major secondary outcomes.. Of 2497 children screened, 261 were eligible; 129 were randomized to the AZ+AS arm, and 132 were randomized to the AL arm; 92% and 91%, respectively, underwent follow-up to 28 days. Planned interim analysis was performed after 200 patients reached day 28 follow-up and led the Data and Safety Monitoring Board to halt further recruitment. All children had a complete initial response to treatment, but 69 (58%) of 119 children in the AZ+AS arm and 24 (20%) of 120 in the AL arm had asexual parasites at or by day 28 (adjusted odds ratio for failure with AZ+AS treatment, 6.1; 95% confidence interval, 3.3-11.4; P < .001). When analysis was restricted to children with recrudescence, the parasitological failure rate was 32% in the AZ+AS arm and 9% in the AL arm. This difference was maintained at day 42.. This trial does not support the use of AZ+AS as treatment for malaria or acute febrile illness in children in areas of Africa with high levels of existing antimalarial drug resistance.. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00694694.

Topics: Animals; Antimalarials; Artemether; Artemisinins; Artesunate; Azithromycin; Child, Preschool; Drug Therapy, Combination; Ethanolamines; Female; Fever of Unknown Origin; Fluorenes; Humans; Infant; Lumefantrine; Malaria; Male; Tanzania; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Antibodies, Bacterial; Azithromycin; Bartonella henselae; Bell Palsy; Cat-Scratch Disease; Child; Drug Therapy, Combination; Eye Infections, Bacterial; Female; Fever of Unknown Origin; Glucocorticoids; Granuloma; Horner Syndrome; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Prednisone; Retinal Diseases; Vision Disorders; Visual Acuity

Children who undergo treatment for malignancies are at high for infection with both typical and opportunistic pathogens. Fever in these children prompts extensive evaluation and empiric treatment with broad-spectrum antimicrobials. In the United States (US), tuberculosis is an infrequently reported cause of fever in the pediatric cancer patient and has not been well described. In this report we describe a case of primary pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in a boy with precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and review the pertinent literature.

Topics: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Antitubercular Agents; Azithromycin; Child, Preschool; Combined Modality Therapy; Contact Tracing; Cyclophosphamide; Cytarabine; Dexamethasone; Doxorubicin; Drug Therapy, Combination; Ethambutol; Fever of Unknown Origin; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Isoniazid; Lymphopenia; Male; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Pneumonectomy; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Pyrazinamide; Rifampin; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary; Vincristine

To retrospectively confirm the suspected rickettsial disease (Scrub typhus) using a gold standard diagnostic test i.e. microimmunofluorescence in pediatric patients with acute febrile illness of unknown etiology. Two serological tests, Weil-Felix and Microimmunofluorescence were used to confirm infection. All five children had fever, vomiting and generalized lymphadenopathy, but none had eschar or rash. One was cured with doxycycline, remaining four patients treated with azithromycin and one died despite treatment. Scrub typhus is a cause of fever of unknown origin in Himalayan region of India and azithromycin is an effective alternative to doxycycline in treating this disease.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Azithromycin; Child; Child, Preschool; Doxycycline; Fatal Outcome; Female; Fever of Unknown Origin; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Humans; India; Male; Orientia tsutsugamushi; Retrospective Studies; Scrub Typhus; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Abdominal Pain; Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibodies, Viral; Azithromycin; Cytomegalovirus; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Diagnosis, Differential; DNA, Viral; Dyspnea; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections; Fever of Unknown Origin; Humans; Jaundice, Obstructive; Liver Function Tests; Lung; Male; Radiography; Virus Diseases

Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Adult; Azithromycin; Diagnosis, Differential; Fever of Unknown Origin; Hantavirus Infections; Humans; Male; Thrombocytopenia

Babesiosis is a malaria-like, tick-transmitted zoonosis caused by protozoa of the family Piroplasmorida, which includes Babesia and Theileria species. In the United States, the infection is endemic in the Northeast and upper Midwest, although cases have recently been described in Northern California and Washington State. We report a case of babesiosis in a patient infected with HIV who presented with a prolonged fever of unknown origin; the patient had not undergone splenectomy. Parasitemia persisted despite initial clinical improvement after treatment with quinine and clindamycin. Babesiosis was controlled with a maintenance regimen consisting of clindamycin, doxycycline, and high-dose azithromycin, but the infection was not eradicated. Babesiosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of HIV-infected patients with fevers and/or anemia in areas where the infection is endemic. HIV-infected patients who are severely immunosuppressed, even those without a history of splenectomy, may present with severe manifestations of babesiosis and develop a chronic infection, which may require therapy to prevent relapse of disease.

Topics: Adult; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Antimalarials; Azithromycin; Babesiosis; Chronic Disease; Clindamycin; Doxycycline; Drug Therapy, Combination; Fever of Unknown Origin; Humans; Male; Parasitemia; Quinine