Cause-Specific Mortality among Infants in a Randomized Controlled Trial of Azithromycin Compared to Placebo for Prevention of Mortality

Abstract

Although community randomized trials have found a reduction in all-cause child mortality in communities receiving mass azithromycin distribution compared with placebo, individually randomized trials have not found similar protective effects. If a direct effect of azithromycin for prevention of child mortality exists, it is likely due to reduction in infectious mortality. Here, we assessed cause-specific mortality in a large randomized controlled trial of azithromycin administered during well-infant visits in Burkina Faso for prevention of mortality. Among 32,877 enrolled infants, the most common causes of death by 6 months of age were malaria, acute respiratory infections, and diarrheal disease. We found no evidence of a difference in the distribution of cause of death by randomized treatment assignment (P 5 0.42) or in any infectious-specific cause of death. The results of this analysis are consistent with no direct effect of azithromycin on infant mortality when administered during well-infant visits.