A common antibiotic could drive down childhood mortality

Health Report - Separate stories podcast

New evidence is supporting the mass distribution of azithromycin to children in sub-Saharan Africa.

Twice-yearly doses have been shown to reduce mortality by 14 per cent in children one month to four years old.

However concerns remain about perpetuating antimicrobial resistance.

References

• Azithromycin to Reduce Mortality — An Adaptive Cluster-Randomized Trial
• Why Was the Azithromycin "for Life" Trial Necessary?