Azithromycin Reduction to Reach Elimination of Trachoma (ARRET): study protocol for a cluster randomized trial of stopping mass azithromycin distribution for trachoma

Table 1 SPIRIT diagram of study assessments

TIMEPOINT	Baseline	Allocation	Follow-up
TIMEPOINT		Mo. 0	*Mo. 12*	*Mo. 24*	*Mo. 36*
ENROLMENT:
Community eligibility screen	X
Informed consent	X
Census	X		X	X	X
Allocation		X
INTERVENTIONS:
*Annual Azithromycin MDA*		X	X	X	(X)^a
*No treatment*		X	X	X	(X)^a
ASSESSMENTS:
*Conjunctival swabs*	X				X
*Conjunctival photography*	X				X
*Dried blood spot collection*	X				X

^aCommunities will receive mass drug administration with azithromycin per Niger trachoma program guidelines at and after the 36-month study visit, depending on the prevalence of trachomatous inflammation--follicular

ISSN: 1471-2415