September 17, 2024 Journal article Open Access

Demeke Daka1,2, Daniel Woldeyes1, Lemu Golassa3, Gezahegn Solomon Alemayehu4, Zerihun Zewde5, Girum Tamiru1, Tadesse Misganaw6, Fekadu Massebo1 and Biniam Wondale1

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{
  "DOI": "10.20372/nadre:17224", 
  "author": [
    {
      "family": "Demeke Daka1,2, Daniel Woldeyes1, Lemu Golassa3, Gezahegn Solomon Alemayehu4, Zerihun Zewde5, Girum Tamiru1, Tadesse Misganaw6, Fekadu Massebo1 and Biniam Wondale1"
    }
  ], 
  "issued": {
    "date-parts": [
      [
        2024, 
        9, 
        17
      ]
    ]
  }, 
  "abstract": "<p>Abstract<br>\nBackground Artemether&ndash;lumefantrine (AL) has been the primary anti-malarial drug used to treat uncomplicated<br>\nPlasmodium falciparum malaria in Ethiopia since 2004. However, there have been recent reports of AL resistance<br>\nmutations in different African countries, including Ethiopia. This is concerning and requires periodic monitoring<br>\nof anti-malarial drug resistance. Therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of AL in treating uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in the Arba Minch Zuria District, Gamo Zone, Southwest Ethiopia.<br>\nMethods A single-arm prospective study with a 28-day follow-up period was conducted from July to October 2022.<br>\nCapillary blood samples were collected for RDT and microscopic examination. The study enrolled monoinfected P.<br>\nfalciparum patients aged &ge; 18 years at Ganta Sira Health Post. Sociodemographic and clinical data were recorded,<br>\nand a dried blood spot (DBS) was prepared for each participant. Nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) genotyping<br>\nof the msp-1 and msp-2 genes was only performed for recurrent cases to distinguish between recurrence and reinfection. Data entry and analysis were performed using the WHO Excel spreadsheet and SPSS version 26.<br>\nResults A total of 89 patients were enrolled, and 67 adequately completed the 28-day follow-up period. AL showed<br>\na 100% clearance rate for fever on day 2 and asexual parasites on day 3. Gametocytes were detected in 13.5% (12/89)<br>\nof the participants. The gametocyte clearance rate was 58.3% (7/12) until day 7 and 100% (12/12) until day 14. Five<br>\nparticipants developed recurrent malaria, three of whom experienced relapse and two of whom experienced reinfection. Based on the Kaplan&ndash;Meier survival analysis, the PCR-uncorrected and PCR-corrected cumulative incidence<br>\nof success were 93.7% (95% CI 85.5&ndash;97.3) and 96.2% (95% CI 85.5&ndash;98.7), respectively.<br>\nConclusion AL was efficacious in treating uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in the study area. However, the detection of recurrent patients highlights the need for continuous efficacy studies in this area.<br>\nKeywords Cure rate, Parasite clearance, Recurrence, Malaria<br>\n&nbsp;</p>", 
  "title": "Therapeutic efficacy of artemether\u2013 lumefantrine in the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Arba Minch Zuria District, Gamo Zone, Southwest Ethiopia", 
  "type": "article-journal", 
  "id": "17224"
}