Comparison of Face Washing and Face Wiping Methods for Trachoma Control: A Pilot Study.

Eye-to-eye transmission of , the causative agent of trachoma, may be plausibly interrupted if faces are kept free of ocular and nasal discharge. Between April and June 2018, 83 children aged 1-9 years with active trachoma were recruited from 62 households and allocated to a face cleaning protocol: face washing with water, face washing with water and soap, or face wiping. Faces were examined for the presence of ocular and nasal discharge, and swabs were taken from faces and hands to test for at baseline, immediately post protocol, and after 1, 2, and 4 hours (washing protocols).