Publications by authors named "Lydia Eloff"
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigated how long malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) and ultra-sensitive RDT (uRDT) remained positive after treatment in a low transmission area in Namibia, finding an average positivity duration of 42 days for RDT and 67 days for uRDT.
- - Factors such as younger age, higher initial parasite density, and persistent parasitemia were linked to longer test positivity, indicating that the usual explanations for lingering positive results, like drug resistance, did not apply.
- - These prolonged positivity durations highlight challenges in using RDTs and uRDTs for accurately identifying current infections in low transmission settings, as they might reflect residual parasite DNA rather than active infection.
Background: Pyrethroid-based indoor residual spraying (IRS) and long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) have been employed as key vector control measures against malaria in Namibia. However, pyrethroid resistance in Anopheles mosquitoes may compromise the efficacy of these interventions. To address this challenge, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of piperonyl butoxide (PBO) LLINs in areas where pyrethroid resistance is confirmed to be mediated by mixed function oxidase (MFO).
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