Mass dose of antibiotic reduced prevalence of trachoma for two years

The prevalence and intensity of trachoma infection, a leading cause of blindness in the developing world in the developing world, fell considerably and remained low for two years after mass treatment of a population in Tanzania with a single round of azithromycin, followed by periodic use of tetracycline eye ointment for those with persistent disease.

Trachoma infection is a chronic keratoconjunctivitis caused by the Chlamydia trachomatis. When the active infection resolves, there is often scarring of the conjunctivae. Over many years, contraction of upper-lid scars that result from this …