Epidemiology of hookworm infection in Kintampo North Municipality, Ghana: patterns of malaria coinfection, anemia, and albendazole treatment failure
2011
Response to Concerns About Hookworm Treatment Study
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Debbie Humphries, Emily Mosites, Joseph Otchere, Richard Bungiro, Hinckley Jones-Sanpei, Lisa Harrison, Michael Wilson, Michael Cappello
Hypothesis
Is the low cure rate of hookworm infections due to drug resistance?
Conclusion
The study suggests that the low cure rates observed may indicate potential drug resistance, despite the authors not claiming this definitively.
Supporting Evidence
- Nearly all hookworm infections in the study were light, which should have predicted a better response to treatment.
- Half of the subjects who remained positive after treatment had higher egg counts on follow-up.
- The authors did not claim that low cure rates are due to genetically mediated resistance.
Takeaway
The researchers found that many people still had hookworm eggs after treatment, which might mean the drug isn't working as well as it should.
Limitations
The study does not claim to have determined the exact cause of low cure rates.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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