Azithromycin Plus Chloroquine Versus Artemether-Lumefantrine For The Treatment Of Uncomplicated P. Falciparum Malaria In Children In Africa

ACPR (PCR-corrected) was defined as asexual Plasmodium falciparum (P.falciparum) parasitologic clearance at Day 28 irrespective of axillary, oral, rectal, or tympanic temperature, without previously meeting the criteria of Early Treatment Failure (ETF) (see measure description in secondary outcome measures 7 and 8) or PCR-corrected Late Treatment Failure (LTF) (which includes PCR-corrected Late Clinical Failures [LCF] - see measure description in secondary outcome measure 9 and 10, and PCR-corrected Late Parasitologic Failures (LPF)- see measure description in secondary outcome measure 11 and 12). PCR-corrected refers to the use of molecular testing to differentiate recrudescence from reinfection in the context of an efficacy evaluation.

ACPR (PCR-corrected) was defined as asexual P.falciparum parasitologic clearance at Day 28 irrespective of axillary, oral, rectal, or tympanic temperature, without previously meeting the criteria of ETF (see measure description in secondary outcome measures 7 and 8) or PCR-corrected LTF (which includes PCR-corrected LCF - see measure description in secondary outcome measure 9 and 10, and PCR-corrected LPF - see measure description in secondary outcome measure 11 and 12). PCR-corrected refers to the use of molecular testing to differentiate recrudescence from reinfection in the context of an efficacy evaluation.

ACPR (PCR-corrected) was defined as asexual P.falciparum parasitologic clearance on Days 7, 14, 21, 35, 42 irrespective of axillary, oral, rectal, or tympanic temperature, without previously meeting the criteria of ETF (see measure description in secondary outcome measures 7 and 8) or PCR-corrected LTF (which includes PCR-Corrected LCF- see measure description in secondary outcome measure 9 and 10, and PCR-corrected LPF - see measure description in secondary outcome measure 11 and 12). PCR-corrected refers to the use of molecular testing to differentiate recrudescence from reinfection in the context of an efficacy evaluation.

ACPR (PCR-corrected) was defined as asexual P.falciparum parasitologic clearance on Days 7, 14, 21, 35, 42 irrespective of axillary, oral, rectal, or tympanic temperature, without previously meeting the criteria of ETF (see measure description in secondary outcome measures 7 and 8) or PCR-corrected LTF (which includes PCR-corrected LCF - see measure description in secondary outcome measure 9 and 10, and PCR-corrected LPF - see measure description in secondary outcome measure 11 and 12). PCR-corrected refers to the use of molecular testing to differentiate recrudescence from reinfection in the context of an efficacy evaluation.

ACPR (PCR-uncorrected) was defined as asexual P.falciparum parasitologic clearance on Days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 irrespective of axillary, oral, rectal, or tympanic temperature, without previously meeting the criteria of ETF (see measure description in secondary outcome measures 7 and 8) or PCR-uncorrected LTF (which includes PCR-uncorrected LCF - see measure description in secondary outcome measure 9 and 10, and PCR-uncorrected LPF - see measure description in secondary outcome measure 11 and 12). PCR-uncorrected: not adjusted for molecular testing which determined recrudescence or true failures from reinfection.

ACPR (PCR-uncorrected) was defined as asexual P.falciparum parasitologic clearance on Days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 irrespective of axillary, oral, rectal, or tympanic temperature, without previously meeting the criteria of ETF (see measure description in secondary outcome measures 7 and 8) or PCR-uncorrected LTF (which includes PCR-uncorrected LCF - see measure description in secondary outcome measure 9 and 10, and PCR-uncorrected LPF - see measure description in secondary outcome measure 11 and 12). PCR-uncorrected: not adjusted for molecular testing which determined recrudescence or true failures from reinfection.

ETF defined as participants who met the following criteria:

• Developed signs of severe malaria or clinical deterioration that required rescue medication on Days 0, 1, 2 or 3, in the presence of P. falciparum parasitemia
• Last available asexual P. falciparum parasite count on Day 2 greater than the first available parasite count on Day 0 (Baseline), irrespective of axillary, oral or rectal temperature.
• Parasitemia (P. falciparum) on Day 3 with fever or
• Last available P. falciparum parasite count on Day 3 >=25% of the first available parasite count on Day 0 (Baseline).

PCR-corrected refers to the use of molecular testing to differentiate recrudescence from reinfection in the context of an efficacy evaluation.

ETF defined as participants who met the following criteria:

• Developed signs of severe malaria or clinical deterioration that required rescue medication on Days 0, 1, 2 or 3, in the presence of P.falciparum parasitemia
• Last available asexual P.falciparum parasite count on Day 2 greater than the first available parasite count on Day 0 (Baseline), irrespective of axillary, oral or rectal temperature.
• Parasitemia (P.falciparum) on Day 3 with fever or
• Last available P.falciparum parasite count on Day 3 >=25% of the first available parasite count on Day 0 (Baseline).

PCR-corrected refers to the use of molecular testing to differentiate recrudescence from reinfection in the context of an efficacy evaluation.

LCF included participants who met any of the following criteria:

• Development of signs of severe malaria or clinical deterioration requiring rescue medication after Day 3 in the presence of P.falciparum parasitemia, without previously meeting any of the criteria of ETF (see measure description in secondary outcome measures 7 and 8)
• Presence of P.falciparum parasitemia and fever on any day from Day 4 onward, without previously meeting any of the criteria of ETF (see measure description in secondary outcome measures 7 and 8). PCR-corrected refers to the use of molecular testing to differentiate recrudescence from reinfection in the context of an efficacy evaluation.

LCF included participants who met any of the following criteria:

• Development of signs of severe malaria or clinical deterioration requiring rescue medication after Day 3 in the presence of P.falciparum parasitemia, without previously meeting any of the criteria of ETF (see measure description in secondary outcome measures 7 and 8)
• Presence of P.falciparum parasitemia and fever on any day from Day 4 onward, without previously meeting any of the criteria of ETF (see measure description in secondary outcome measures 7 and 8). PCR-corrected refers to the use of molecular testing to differentiate recrudescence from reinfection in the context of an efficacy evaluation.

LPF: Presence of P. falciparum parasitemia in the mITT population on any day from Day 7 onward and the absence of fever without previously meeting any of the criteria of ETF (see measure description in secondary outcome measures 7 and 8) or LCF (see measure description in secondary outcome measure 9 and 10). PCR-corrected refers to the use of molecular testing to differentiate recrudescence from reinfection in the context of an efficacy evaluation.

LPF: Presence of P.falciparum parasitemia in the PP population on any day from Day 7 onward and the absence of fever without previously meeting any of the criteria of ETF (see measure description in secondary outcome measures 7 and 8) or LCF (see measure description in secondary outcome measure 9 and 10). PCR-corrected refers to the use of molecular testing to differentiate recrudescence from reinfection in the context of an efficacy evaluation.

Percentage of participants who were cleared of asexual parasites. Asexual parasite clearance - clearance of asexual P.falciparum parasitemia within 7 days of initiation of treatment without subsequent recurrence (PCR-corrected) through the day of consideration. PCR-corrected refers to the use of molecular testing to differentiate recrudescence from reinfection in the context of an efficacy evaluation.

Gametocyte response/absence/clearance: Clearance of P.falciparum gametocytemia (PCR-uncorrected) (attainment of 2 consecutive zero gametocyte counts) without subsequent recurrence through the day of consideration. PCR-uncorrected: not adjusted for molecular testing which determined recrudescence or true failures from reinfection.

Calculated as time of first occurrence of two consecutive time points with temperature less than (<) 38.0 degrees C/100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (rectal), 37.2 degrees C/99.0 degrees F (axillary), or <37.5 degrees C/99.5 degrees F (oral).

Defined as time to first of two consecutive zero asexual P. falciparum parasite (PCR-corrected) counts, regardless of recurrence of parasitemia later. PCR-corrected refers to the use of molecular testing to differentiate recrudescence from reinfection in the context of an efficacy evaluation.

Nadir hemoglobin for each participant was defined as the minimum hemoglobin values obtained from Day 0 through Day 3.

Change from nadir = observation minus nadir. Nadir defined as the minimum value for each participant on Days 0-3.

Time from the day of clearance to the time of recurrence of asexual P.falciparum parasitemia (PCR-uncorrected).

A genetic marker, P.falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (PfCRT), indicative of P.falciparum chloroquine resistance was to be determined from blood blots obtained on Day 0 and at the time of treatment failure. Treatment failure was defined as any of the following events that a participant experienced from Day 0 through the Day 42 visit: ETF (see measure description in secondary outcome measures 7 and 8), LCF (PCR corrected) (see measure description in secondary outcome measure 9 and 10), or LPF (PCR corrected) (see measure description in secondary outcome measure 11 and 12). Recrudescence of asexual P.falciparum parasites was considered treatment failure.