Comparison of 3 Days Amoxicillin Versus 5 Days Co-Trimoxazole for Treatment of Fast-breathing Pneumonia by Community Health Workers in Children Aged 2-59 Months in Pakistan: A Cluster-randomized Trial

Abstract

Background: Globally, most deaths due to childhood pneumonia occur at the community level. Some countries are still using oral co-trimoxazole, despite a World Health Organization recommendation of oral amoxicillin for the treatment of fast-breathing pneumonia in children at the community level.

Methods: We conducted an unblinded, cluster-randomized, controlled-equivalency trial in Haripur District, Pakistan. Children 2-59 months of age with fast-breathing pneumonia were treated with oral amoxicillin suspension (50 mg/kg/day) for 3 days in 14 intervention clusters and oral co-trimoxazole suspension (8 mg trimethoprim/kg and 40 mg sulfamethoxazole/kg/day) for 5 days in 14 control clusters by lady health workers (LHW). The primary outcome was treatment failure by day 4 for intervention clusters and by day 6 for control clusters. The analysis was per protocol.

Results: Out of the 15 749 cases enrolled in the study, 9153 cases in intervention and 6509 cases in control clusters were included in the analysis. Treatment failure rates were 3.6% (326) in intervention clusters and 9.1% (592) in control clusters. After adjusting for clustering, the risk of treatment failure was lower in intervention clusters (risk difference [RD] -5.5%, 95% confidence interval [CI] -7.4--3.7%) than in control clusters. Children with incomplete adherence had a small increase in treatment failure versus those with complete adherence (RD 2.9%, 95% CI 1.6-4.1%). No deaths or serious adverse events occurred.

Conclusions: A 3-day course of oral amoxicillin, administered by LHWs, is an effective and safe treatment for fast-breathing pneumonia in children 2-59 months of age. A shorter course of amoxicillin improves adherence to therapy, is low in cost, and puts less pressure on antimicrobial resistance.

Clinical trials registration: ISRCTN10618300.

Keywords: cluster-randomized trial; community treatment; fast-breathing pneumonia; oral amoxicillin; short-course therapy.