Can an Antibiotic Prevent MDR Tuberculosis in Children
- FHS Communications
Wits researchers involved: Neil?Martinson
Each year, about 30,000 children worldwide develop multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis, a severe form of the disease that is harder to treat. Despite this, there has been little research on how best to protect children who have been exposed to MDR tuberculosis. A new study, featuring Wits University researcher Professor Neil Martinson, explores whether the antibiotic levofloxacin can prevent children from developing the disease.
Study Overview
This research was a large, community-based clinical trial conducted in South Africa. It followed 922 children from 497 households, all of whom had been exposed to an adult with confirmed MDR tuberculosis. The study was designed as a rigorous, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, meaning some children received levofloxacin while others received a placebo, allowing researchers to accurately measure the drug’s effectiveness.
Key Findings
Results showed that levofloxacin led to fewer cases of tuberculosis compared to the placebo, but the difference was not large enough to be statistically significant. While the study did not provide definitive proof that levofloxacin prevents MDR tuberculosis in children, it adds valuable data to the ongoing search for effective prevention strategies.
Professor Martinson and his team emphasise that protecting children from MDR tuberculosis remains a global priority. Although levofloxacin alone may not be the solution, the findings contribute to a better understanding of how to prevent the disease and highlight the need for continued research in this area.