Azithromycin prevents trichiasis recurrence after surgical treatment

Administering a single dose of oral azithromycin after trichiasis surgery reduces severe recurrence rates in the first year postop, according to results of the STAR Trial. Azithromycin administration "should become standard post-surgical treatment," the study authors said.

Sheila West, PhD, and colleagues reviewed outcomes for 1,452 patients who were randomly assigned to receive either a single 1-g dose of oral Zithromax (azithromycin, Pfizer) or topical Sumycin (tetracycline, Par Pharmaceuticals) twice daily for 6 weeks after trichiasis surgery.

The study was conducted in a rural, trachoma hyperendemic region of Ethiopia. All patients were 18 years of age or older and were followed for 1 year.

Researchers defined trichiasis recurrence as either lashes touching the cornea or more than five lashes touching the globe, according to the study.

Investigators found that patients treated with azithromycin had significantly fewer severe trichiasis recurrences. Specifically, the overall recurrence rate was 4.2 per 100 person-years for azithromycin-treated patients and 7.9 per 100 person-years for tetracycline-treated patients (P < .01), the authors reported.

The study is published in the September issue of Ophthalmic Epidemiology.