Assessing the efficacy and safety of albendazole, nitazoxanide and albendazole-nitazoxanide in the treatment of Trichuris trichiura and other Soil Transmitted Helminth infections in Pemba, Tanzania
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN83836427 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN83836427 |
| Protocol serial number | N/A |
| Sponsor | University of Basel (Switzerland) |
| Funders | Universität Basel, Vontobel-Stiftung |
- Submission date
- 10/05/2011
- Registration date
- 01/06/2011
- Last edited
- 23/09/2016
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Infections and Infestations
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Soil-transmitted helminths are intestinal worms that infect humans and are transmitted through contaminated soil. Between 600 and 800 million people are infected with one or several of the common soil-transmitted helminths. There is a pressing need for new drugs against soil-transmitted helminth infection. At present, there are four drugs on the World Health Organization (WHO) model list of essential medicines and they have been widely and effectively used against STH infections for three decades or more. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness and safety of oral albendazole, nitazoxanide and a nitazoxanide-albendazole combination against STH infection.
Who can participate?
Children aged 6 - 12 in Pemba, Tanzania
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to be treated with either oral albendazole, nitazoxanide, or a nitazoxanide-albendazole combination. At the start and the end of the study participants’ stool samples are examined and the number of helminth eggs per gram of stool is measured. All participants are closely monitored for illness during the period of drug treatment. Participants who report side effects are examined carefully by the study doctor and, when necessary, action is taken. At the end of the study all participants are treated with albendazole and any other infections are diagnosed according to the national treatment guidelines for district hospitals.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Not provided at time of registration
Where is the study run from?
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Switzerland)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
June 2011 to July 2011
Who is funding the study?
1. University of Basel (Switzerland)
2. Vontobel Foundation (Switzerland)
Who is the main contact?
Prof. Jennifer Keiser
Contact information
Scientific
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
University of Basel
Socinstrasse 57
Basel
4002
Switzerland
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Nitazoxanide, albendazole and nitazoxanide plus albendazole, in the treatment against T. trichiura and other Soil Transmitted Helminth infections in a placebo controlled trial in Pemba, Tanzania a randomized double blind trial |
| Study acronym | NTZALB-STH |
| Study objectives | An albendazole - nitazoxanide combination achieves a higher efficacy against T. trichiura than single albendazole |
| Ethics approval(s) | 1. Ethics Committee of Basel, 15/09/2010, ref: 225/10 2. Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW) of Zanzibar, 31/08/2010, Ref: ZAMEC/0001/010 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Infection with soil-transmitted helminths (i.e. T. trichiura, A. lumbricoides, hookworms) |
| Intervention | 1. Combination of albendazole (400mg) plus placebo 2. Combination of nitazoxanide (1000mg) plus placebo 3. Combination of albendazole (400mg) plus nitazoxanide (1000mg) 4. Two tablets of placebo 5. Because the drug interaction between nitazoxanide and albendazole is not known, the two drugs will be distributed on subsequent days 6. Since albendazole and nitazoxanide have a half life time of 7 hours and 8-12 hours, respectively, no interaction between the drugs should occur when consumed on two subsequent days At the end of the study, all children positive for soil-transmitted helminths will receive one tablet of albendazole. |
| Intervention type | Drug |
| Phase | Not Applicable |
| Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s) | Albendazole, nitazoxanide |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Cure rates and egg reduction rates three weeks after treatment: |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
Adverse events due to specific treatment: |
| Completion date | 31/07/2011 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Child |
| Lower age limit | 6 Years |
| Upper age limit | 12 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 600 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Written informed consent signed by parents and/or legal guardian 2. Male or female, aged 6 - 12 years 3. Able and willing to be examined by a study physician at the beginning and at the end of the study (3 weeks post-treatment) 4. Able and willing to provide 2 stool samples at the beginning and at the end of the study 5. Absence of major systemic illnesses (e.g. cancer, diabetes, clinical malaria or hepato-splenic schistosomiasis) as assessed by the medical doctor, upon initial clinical assessment 6. No known or reported history of chronic illness as cancer, diabetes, chronic heart, liver or renal disease 7. No recent anthelminthic treatment (within past 4 weeks) 8. No pregnancy |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. No written informed consent by parents/legal guardian and child 2. Presence of any abnormal medical condition, judged by the study physician 3. History of acute or severe chronic disease.(cancer, diabetes, chronic heart, liver or renal disease) 4. Recent use of anthelminthic drug (within past 4 weeks) 5. Attending other clinical trials during the study 6. Pregnancy |
| Date of first enrolment | 06/06/2011 |
| Date of final enrolment | 31/07/2011 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Switzerland
- Tanzania
Study participating centre
4002
Switzerland
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not provided at time of registration |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
23/09/2016: Plain English summary added.
