Abstract:
Objectives Thailand is an endemic area for Strongyloides stercoralis, a round worm that can cause severe infection in immunocompromised patients, especially patients who received high dose of corticosteroids, with 59% mortality rate. Antihelminthic prophylaxis may reduce the incidence of S. stercoralis infection in high risk patients. Thiabendazole used to prescribe for strongyloidiasis prevention but the result is not statistical significance. Ivermectin is antihelminthic drug that has 90% efficacy, more than thiabendazole and lesser toxicity. So ivermectin may reduce the incidence of strongyloidiasis in high risk patients. Patients and methods Adult patients aged over 18 years, currently prescribed high dose of corticosteroids (cumulative dose at least 1,000 mg of prednisolone or equivalence) and no S. stercoralis detected from stool were included in this study during December 1, 2015 to May 31, 2016. The patients were allocated randomly to receive ivermectin (6 mg) or placebo. At least 1 month after enrollment, patients were required to collect stool sample for S. stercoralis detection tests. The results of the tests were analyzed as primary outcome. Results From 34 patients that enroll in this study, there were 23 patients completing the follow up schedule. There was no S. stercoralis detected from stool samples of these patients. Conclusions We cannot conclude any benefit of ivermectin administration for strongyloidiasis prevention due to low prevalence of infection and a short follow up period