Conclusions & Recommendations
12.2.1 - Treatment of Districts with TF1-9 5-9.9% at Baseline (no recommendation)
Conclusion/Recommendation:
TEC welcomes Zithromax® requests from countries to conduct one round of mass treatment in the context of SAFE in areas with TF1-9 5-9.9% at baseline because:
• WHO guidelines require districts achieve TF1-9 <5% to declare elimination;
• antibiotic treatment is effective at reducing the prevalence of active disease and ocular C. trachomatis infection;
• historical evidence indicates that a single round has been effective in reducing prevalence of TF1-9 to below 5% when the baseline TF1-9 was between 5-9.9%; and
• this strategy is programmatically more efficient (in terms of time, money, and Zithromax®) and more acceptable to communities than targeted treatments.
TEC considers availability of resources, including Zithromax® and money to support its distribution, in Zithromax® allocation decision making and prioritization.
Action:
No action required
TEC 12
2015
12.3.1 - Serious Adverse Events
Conclusion/Recommendation:
TEC recommends that ITI work with ICTC partners to disseminate information on management and reporting requirements for serious adverse events (SAEs), including inclusion of such requirements in training manuals now under development.
Action:
-ITI has conducted internal staff training on discussing with NPCs the topics of AE reporting and care in treating young children
-ITI staff are talking individually with NPCs as the opportunity presents on the importance of having a reporting plan in place prior to MDAs.
-Text on preventing, managing, and reporting adverse events has been included in the ICTC MDA microplanning manual.
TEC 12
2015
12.4.1 - Prevalence Surveys
Conclusion/Recommendation:
TEC recommends that all future requests for Zithromax® be considered on the basis of prevalence data generated in accordance with the procedures suggested by WHO.
Action:
This recommendation was sent to all countries that submitted Zithromax® applications at TEC 12; where procedures do not provide sufficient guidance ITI will offer assistance as requested.
TEC 12
2015
12.5.1 - Funding Support to WHO
Conclusion/Recommendation:
TEC recommends that ITI consider providing funds to WHO for a position based at WHO-HQ to support the epidemiological needs of countries in the Global Programme.
Action:
ITI has committed to providing 50% of the funding to cover salary for the WHO-HQ-based epidemiologist position for the next two years.
TEC 12
2015
12.6.1 - Trachoma Operational Research
Conclusion/Recommendation:
TEC recommends that studies on the rational use of antibiotics be prioritized for funding and be conducted in parallel so that the results may better inform future Zithromax® allocation decisions to ensure efficient use of the donation as the Global Programme expands.
Action:
ITI has received an application from TCC as part of the WHO Collaborating Centres, and has committed to providing funding for their study on alternative treatment strategies with Zithromax®. Pfizer has agreed for ITI to use funds in the Operating Reserve to support other operational research questions on the rational use of antibiotics as outlined by the WHO network of Collaborating Centres, as and when applications are received.
TEC 12
2015
12.6.2 - Trachoma Operational Research
Conclusion/Recommendation:
TEC highlights the need to conduct additional studies assessing the safety of co-administering Zithromax® with ivermectin and albendazole, in multiple settings.
Action:
ITI has committed to providing funding support for a study on co-administration of Zithromax® and albendazole being conducted in Solomon Islands and is in discussions with researchers in Vanuatu and Ethiopia for coadministration of Zithromax®, albendazole and ivermectin.
TEC 12
2015
12.6.3 - Trachoma Operational Research
Conclusion/Recommendation:
TEC recommends that ITI discuss with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other funders, as well as the TFGH's Filling the Gaps project, regarding the overall operational research needs to expedite the global elimination of trachoma.
Action:
ITI have worked with ICTC partners and other TFGH programs to discuss the re-prioritization of trachoma research with BMGF staff and program advisors.
TEC 12
2015
12.7.1 - Cepheid GeneXpert Donation
Conclusion/Recommendation:
TEC strongly endorses that ITI proceed with steps to secure the donation of Cepheid GeneXpert platforms as quickly as possible, followed by a stakeholder meeting to determine how best to manage the machines in support of the Global Programme.
Action:
ITI is working with Cepheid to discuss the scale and timeline of the donation. A teleconference will be arranged with interested trachoma laboratory researchers to agree on management of the donated machines.
TEC 12
2015
12.7.2 - Cepheid GeneXpert Donation
Conclusion/Recommendation:
TEC acknowledges the offer of Johns Hopkins, a WHO Collaborating Centre, to assist in the management of the donation, and awaits the results of the stakeholders’ discussion to determine the agreed way forward.
Action:
TEC 12
2015
12.8.1 - PC-5 NTD New Entity
Conclusion/Recommendation:
TEC welcomes the opportunity to work out how to share expertise with the AFRO RPRG and the PC-5 NTD ‘new entity’ now under development.
Action:
Paul Emerson has been nominated by the PDCI group to represent the donation programs on the ESPEN steering committee. TFGH and ITI staff have spoken directly with AFRO leadership to express our enthusiasm and willingness to contribute to the new entity.
TEC 12
2015