Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine versus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis.

Background: High-grade resistance to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in East and Southern Africa has prompted numerous trials evaluating intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine as an alternative to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine.

Methods: We conducted individual participant data meta-analyses of randomised trials comparing IPTp with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine on maternal, birth, and infant outcomes. We searched the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, ClinicalTrials.

Short-Term Training, a Useful Approach for Sustainable Pharmacovigilance Knowledge Development in Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia and Rwanda.

Continuous professional development among stakeholders involved in drug safety monitoring and surveillance is imperative in strengthening pharmacovigilance (PV) systems. The "Pharmacovigilance infrastructure and post-marketing surveillance system capacity building for regional medicine regulatory harmonization in East Africa" (PROFORMA) project aims to enhance the national PV infrastructure, post-marketing surveillance systems and clinical trial regulatory capabilities in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda. To achieve this, training, including short-term training (STT) activities, at various levels is required.

Pharmacokinetics of piperaquine and its association with intermittent malaria preventive therapy outcomes during pregnancy.

Background: Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHP) recently showed superior effectiveness over sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for malaria intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp). We investigated day 7 piperaquine pharmacokinetics and its therapeutic efficacy in preventing malaria during pregnancy.

Methods: Malaria-free (mRDT) pregnant women (n = 400) who received monthly IPTp-DHP were enrolled and followed till delivery.

Efficacy of ivermectin and albendazole combination in suppressing transmission of lymphatic filariasis following mass administration in Tanzania: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Preventive chemotherapy with ivermectin and albendazole (IA) in mass drug administration (MDA) programs for all at-risk populations is the core public health intervention to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF). Achieving this goal depends on drug effectiveness in reducing parasite reservoirs in the community to halt transmission. We assessed the efficacy of ivermectin and albendazole in clearing microfilariae and circulating filarial antigens (CFA) following MDA.

Gentamicin concentration and acute kidney injury in term neonates treated for neonatal sepsis with gentamicin and ampicillin-cloxacillin combination.

Gentamicin is widely used to treat neonatal infections caused by both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, and the WHO recommends its use while monitoring serum creatinine and gentamicin concentrations to avoid drug-induced nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. Yet in some resource-limited settings, the drug is used without monitoring. A population pharmacokinetics study involving term neonates with neonatal infection admitted to a neonatal unit.