Trial Outcomes & Findings for Single Dose Azithromycin to Prevent Cholera in Children (NCT NCT04326478)

NCT ID: NCT04326478

Last Updated: 2026-08-07

Results Overview

The presence of V. cholerae O1 will be determined via the culturing of specimens collected via rectal swab sampling. Rectal swab acquisition will begin on the day of azithromycin administration and repeat on days 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 following the intervention.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

PHASE2

Target enrollment

2475 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

1 week

Results posted on

2026-08-07

Participant Flow

Participants were recruited from households of index patients with culture-confirmed cholera in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Eligible participants were household child contacts 1 to 15 years of age.

2,475 individuals provided informed consent and were considered enrolled in the study: 1,848 index patients with cholera and 627 eligible household contacts. The index patients were enrolled to identify eligible households and child contacts but were not assigned to an intervention and not included in the assessment of trial outcomes. The Participant Flow module therefore begins with the 627 child household contacts from 402 households who were assigned by household to azithromycin or placebo.

Unit of analysis: Households

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Azithromycin
Participants in households assigned to this group received a single oral dose of azithromycin according to the trial protocol.
Placebo
Participants in households assigned to this group received a single oral dose of placebo according to the trial protocol.
Overall Study
STARTED
314 201
313 201
Overall Study
COMPLETED
314 201
313 201
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
0 0
0 0

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Single Dose Azithromycin to Prevent Cholera in Children

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Azithromycin
n=314 Participants
Participants in households assigned to this group received a single oral dose of azithromycin according to the trial protocol.
Placebo
n=313 Participants
Participants in households assigned to this group received a single oral dose of placebo according to the trial protocol.
Total
n=627 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
314 Participants
n=20 Participants
313 Participants
n=20 Participants
627 Participants
n=40 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
0 Participants
n=20 Participants
0 Participants
n=20 Participants
0 Participants
n=40 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
n=20 Participants
0 Participants
n=20 Participants
0 Participants
n=40 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
146 Participants
n=20 Participants
158 Participants
n=20 Participants
304 Participants
n=40 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
168 Participants
n=20 Participants
155 Participants
n=20 Participants
323 Participants
n=40 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=20 Participants
0 Participants
n=20 Participants
0 Participants
n=40 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
314 Participants
n=20 Participants
313 Participants
n=20 Participants
627 Participants
n=40 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=20 Participants
0 Participants
n=20 Participants
0 Participants
n=40 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants
n=20 Participants
0 Participants
n=20 Participants
0 Participants
n=40 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
0 Participants
n=20 Participants
0 Participants
n=20 Participants
0 Participants
n=40 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
n=20 Participants
0 Participants
n=20 Participants
0 Participants
n=40 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=20 Participants
0 Participants
n=20 Participants
0 Participants
n=40 Participants
Region of Enrollment
Bangladesh
314 Participants
n=20 Participants
313 Participants
n=20 Participants
627 Participants
n=40 Participants
Participants Assigned an Intervention
314 Participants
n=20 Participants
313 Participants
n=20 Participants
627 Participants
n=40 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 1 week

Population: Only household contacts assigned to an intervention - not screened and index patients

The presence of V. cholerae O1 will be determined via the culturing of specimens collected via rectal swab sampling. Rectal swab acquisition will begin on the day of azithromycin administration and repeat on days 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 following the intervention.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Azithromycin
n=314 Participants
Participants in households assigned to this group received a single oral dose of azithromycin according to the trial protocol.
Placebo
n=313 Participants
Participants in households assigned to this group received a single oral dose of placebo according to the trial protocol.
Rate of V. Cholerae Infection in Household Contacts of Cholera Index Cases
Culture positive, ITT
27 Participants
67 Participants
Rate of V. Cholerae Infection in Household Contacts of Cholera Index Cases
Culture negative, ITT
287 Participants
246 Participants

Adverse Events

Azithromycin Group

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Non-antibiotic Placebo Group

Serious events: 1 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Serious adverse events
Measure
Azithromycin Group
n=314 participants at risk
Enrolled children in a household randomized to the experimental group will receive a single weight-based dose of azithromycin administered by a trained study nurse within 12 hours of a member of their household testing positive for cholera. They will then complete 9 follow-up study visits in their home, during which rectal swabs and/or stool samples will be collected. Azithromycin: Enrolled children in the intervention arm of this study will receive a single weight-based dose of azithromycin (20 mg/kg, to a maximum dose of 1 gram) administered by a trained study nurse within 12 hours of a member of their household testing positive for cholera.
Non-antibiotic Placebo Group
n=313 participants at risk
Enrolled children in a household randomized to the placebo arm will receive a single dose of non-antibiotic placebo during their first study visit, which will occur within 12 hours of a member of their household testing positive for cholera. Like the participants in the intervention arm, they will complete 9 follow-up study visits in their home, during which rectal swabs and/or stool samples will be collected. Placebo: Enrolled children in the placebo arm of this study will receive a single dose of non-antibiotic placebo administered by a trained study nurse within 12 hours of a member of their household testing positive for cholera.
Infections and infestations
Hospitalization
0.00%
0/314 • 6 months
No difference
0.32%
1/313 • Number of events 1 • 6 months
No difference

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Jason Harris MD

MassGeneral Brigham

Phone: 6175196706

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place