A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial using dihydroartemisinine+piperaquine (DP) to protect forest workers from malaria in Bu Gia Map National Park, Vietnam

Study Type: Interventional  (Clinical Trial)
Actual Enrollment: 150 participants
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Stage 1 – Parasite clearance:
All eligible forest rangers will be treated with a full course of Arterakine (dihydroartemisinine/piperaquine) + primaquine to eradicate all parasites which may survive in their blood while staying in non- malaria transmission areas.

Stage 2 – Forest trip:
Just before returning back to the forest participants will be randomized to receive either Arterakine [intervention arm] or Placebo [control arm] for 3 days (day -2, -1 and day 0 prior forest visit).

Participants will be assessed for parasitemia before and after the forest trip with high volume, ultrasensitive, PCR (HVUqPCR). The minimum time span between two forest trips should be 20 days so participants could complete the 14 day primaquine course and the Arterakine (dihydroartemisinine/piperaquine). Each participant will be visited 2 weeks or later after returning home from the forest and examined. 

ClinicalTrials.gov - Project details

Drug-based Strategies
Operational Research
Vulnerable Populations

May 2016 — Nov 2016

Vietnam

Targeted Drug Administration (TDA) strategies