A new groundbreaking HIV study, examining the efficacy of an antibiotic, could potentially reduce mortality rates among patients with advanced HIV across Africa.
The REVIVE trial will ascertain whether the antibiotic Azithromycin, if administered once daily over four weeks, can effectively decrease mortality rates in adults grappling with advanced stages of HIV.
The study, which will examine 8000 patients in 14 countries, is being funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and is being conducted by a Pan-African network of investigators, co-led by researchers at the University of Cape Town and the Population Health Research Institute in Canada.
Sean Wasserman, co-principal investigator (PI) of the study and adjunct Associate Professor at UCT says, if Azithromycin is shown to be effective, it will modify the standard of care for patients in Africa.
“So the the purpose of this trial is to identify an intervention, a strategy that could reduce mortality among a group of people with advanced HIV disease. This group of people with advanced HIV is at high risk of early mortality, even after starting antiretroviral therapy.”
“And so, our entire strategy is to focus on this group of very at risk people who could potentially benefit from a broad spectrum antibiotic to prevent the occurrence of severe bacterial infection and therefore reduce early mortality,” adds Wasserman.
