Table 3. Egg reduction rates and drug efficacy classification before and after quality control on fecal egg counts.
Using the dataset from Ethiopia, Lao PDR and Tanzania, the egg reduction rates (ERRs) and 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) were calculated based on the duplicate Kato-Katz data for each soil-transmitted helminth using both the original dataset (Pre-QC FEC) as well as the dataset after adjusting for discrepancies detected during quality control (QC) on the fecal egg counts (FECs) (Post-QC FEC). The ERRs were classified into satisfactory (green), doubtful (yellow) or reduced (red) according to albendazole efficacy thresholds set by the World Health Organization [2].
| Pre- QC FEC | Post-QC FEC | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country | STH species | n | Mean FEC at baseline (EPG) | Mean FEC at follow-up (EPG) | ERR % + (95%CI) |
n | Mean FEC at baseline (EPG) | Mean FEC at follow-up (EPG) | ERR % + (95%CI) |
| Ethiopia | Ascaris | 135 | 666.7 | 0.5 | 99.9 (99.8–100) | 134 | 688.4 | 0.5 | 99.9 (99.8–100) |
| Trichuris | 139 | 15.1 | 7.9 | 47.7 (31.3–61.4) | 138 | 14.7 | 8.1 | 44.9 (31.3–61.4) | |
| Hookworm | 97 | 21.8 | 0.9 | 95.9 (93.0–98.1) | 96 | 22.1 | 0.9 | 95.9 (93.0–98.1) | |
| Lao PDR | Ascaris | 104 | 1,205.6 | 9.3 | 99.2 (97.9–99.9) | 104 | 1,205.6 | 9.3 | 99.2 (97.9–99.9) |
| Trichuris | 107 | 30.1 | 17.9 | 40.5 (12.5–63.3) | 107 | 30.1 | 17.9 | 40.5 (12.5–63.3) | |
| Hookworm | 259 | 155.7 | 5.9 | 96.2 (94.2–97.8) | 259 | 155.7 | 5.9 | 96.2 (94.2–97.8) | |
| Tanzania | Ascaris | 171 | 1,649.6 | 42.7 | 97.4 (92.8–99.7) | 172 | 1,640.2 | 42.4 | 97.4 (92.8–99.7) |
| Trichuris | 288 | 276.3 | 326.3 | -18.1 (-38.9–1.0) | 288 | 277.5 | 328.3 | -18.3 (-38.8–0.6) | |
| Hookworm | 107 | 34.0 | 4.9 | 85.6 (77.7–91.6) | 107 | 34.0 | 4.9 | 85.6 (77.7–91.6) | |