Reducing the Burden of Malaria by Targeting Hotspots of Malaria Transmission (REDHOT)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01575613 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : April 11, 2012
Last Update Posted : November 27, 2012
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In this study, the investigators propose to determine the value of rolling out four targeted malaria control efforts in reducing overall malaria transmission. These targeted control efforts include local upscaling of IRS and ITNs in hotspots of malaria transmission. In addition, larviciding will be employed to target malaria vectors, also those that are less susceptible to IRS and ITNs as a consequence of outdoor feeding and resting. Lastly, the human infectious reservoir will be reduced in hotspots of malaria transmission by treating parasite carriers and their household members with the current first-line antimalarial drug. The impact of these targeted interventions on overall transmission intensity will be assessed in the context of currently ongoing malaria control activities in a plausibility study. Hotspots of malaria transmission are defined in an area of 100km2 and randomized to receive hotspot targeted interventions and compared with their baseline and with control clusters where the routine (untargeted) malaria control activities continue. The interventions will be evaluated based on changes in parasite prevalence measured in community surveys inside and outside hotspots of malaria transmission. Parasite prevalence will be compared before and after the intervention in intervention clusters and between intervention and control clusters.
In addition to malaria surveys in the human population, an entomological evaluation will take place where the densities of mosquito larvae and adult mosquitoes are monitored longitudinally.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Malaria | Drug: Artemether-lumefantrine combination Biological: Bacillus thuringiensis Biological: Long lasting insecticide treated net (LLINs) Biological: Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) | Not Applicable |
DEFINITIONS This study uses a plausibility design to determine the plausible impact of hotspot-targeted interventions on overall malaria transmission. Hotspots will be detected in the 100km2 study area. Hotspots are defined as areas with a level of transmission intensity that exceeds that in the surrounding area; indicated by a higher sero-conversion rate and/or age-adjusted density of malaria-specific antibodies.
Clusters for the intervention are defined as a hotspot and the area surrounding this hotspot in each direction up to 500 meters.
INTERVENTION Half of the clusters will be randomized to hotspot-targeted interventions, while the other half will serve as control. The plausible impact of hotspot targeted interventions will be evaluated by comparing malaria indices in intervention clusters with their baseline and with control clusters.
In each phase four hotspot-targeted interventions will be superimposed on ongoing control measures: hotspots will be targeted with a combination IRS, long-lasting insecticide treated nets (LLINs), larviciding and a focal screening and treatment (FSAT).
EVALUATION The primary outcome will be parasite prevalence in evaluation zones (i.e. the area surrounding malaria hotspots) of targeted and untargeted clusters. In addition, parasite prevalence will be determined inside hotspots of malaria transmission and in evaluation zones in relation to distance to the hotspot boundary. For this, community surveys are planned prior to the intervention and at two time-points after the intervention.
An entomological evaluation will take place concurrently in which mosquito breeding sites are monitored for productivity and mosquitoes will be sampled indoors and outdoors.
Malaria morbidity is assessed by passive case detection.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 17506 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Prevention |
Official Title: | Reducing the Burden of Malaria by Targeting Hotspots of Transmission and Improving Malaria Control Measures in the Highlands of Western Kenya: Simultaneous Rollout of Four Malaria Control Interventions and Evaluation by Cross-sectional Surveys |
Study Start Date : | April 2012 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | November 2012 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | November 2012 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: Hotspot Targeting
Four hotspot-targeted interventions will be superimposed on ongoing control measures: hotspots will be targeted with a combination of IRS, long-lasting insecticide treated nets (LLINs), larviciding and a focal screening and treatment (FSAT)campaign.
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Drug: Artemether-lumefantrine combination
Focal screening and treatment in all households in malaria hotspots prior to the peak transmission season. Screening of a sentinel age group by rapid diagnostic tests; all parasitaemic individuals and household members of parasitaemic individuals will be treated. Biological: Bacillus thuringiensis Treatment of all waterbodies within hotspots with Bti or Bs on weekly basis Biological: Long lasting insecticide treated net (LLINs) Distribution of LLINs in all households in malaria hotspots; instruction about correct use. Biological: Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) 6-monthly IRS with deltamethrin in all households malaria hotspots. |
No Intervention: Control
Standard of care as determined by the Division of Malaria Control of the Kenyan Ministry of Health
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- Parasite prevalence in the evaluation zone surrounding malaria hotspots [ Time Frame: 3 cross-sectional surveys in up to 210 days, the timing being: at enrolment; 45-75 days post enrolment (coinciding with the peak malaria transmission season) and 150-210 days post enrolment (coinciding with the end of the malaria transmission season) ]Parasite prevalence, determined by PCR, in the evaluation zone surrounding hotspots in intervention and control clusters
- Parasite prevalence inside malaria hotspots [ Time Frame: 3 cross-sectional surveys in up to 210 days, the timing being: at enrolment; 45-75 days post enrolment (coinciding with the peak malaria transmission season) and 150-210 days post enrolment (coinciding with the end of the malaria transmission season) ]Parasite prevalence, determined by PCR, inside hotspot of malaria transmission in intervention and control clusters
- Parasite prevalence in the evaluation zone as function of distance to the hotspot boundary [ Time Frame: 3 cross-sectional surveys in up to 210 days, the timing being: at enrolment; 45-75 days post enrolment (coinciding with the peak malaria transmission season) and 150-210 days post enrolment (coinciding with the end of the malaria transmission season) ]Parasite prevalence, determined by PCR, in relation to distance to the boundary of malaria hotspots in intervention and control clusters
- Anopheles mosquito density [ Time Frame: determined during fortnightly trapping, starting at enrolment and continuing until up to 210 days after enrolment ]Indoor and outdoor anopheles mosquito density inside and outside hotspots of malaria transmission in intervention and control clusters
- Passive case detection [ Time Frame: determined continuously for a period of up to 210 days after enrolment ]Number of malaria cases reporting at health facilities, coming from intervention and control clusters
- Safety and acceptability of interventions [ Time Frame: at a single cross-sectional survey 15-45 days after enrolment ]Side effects of FSAT, LLINs and IRS in targeted households
- Mosquito breeding site productivity [ Time Frame: determined on a weekly basis for a period of up to 210 days after enrolment ]The presence and density of anopheles larvae in mosquito breeding sites in malaria hotspots in intervention and control clusters

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 6 Months and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Exclusion Criteria:
- For LLINs, IRS and larviciding there are no exclusion criteria
- Pregnant women and children < 6 months of age are excluded from FSAT

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01575613
Kenya | |
Rachuonyo District, Kenya |
Principal Investigator: | Teun Bousema, PhD | Radboud University | |
Principal Investigator: | Jon Cox, PhD | London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine | |
Principal Investigator: | Jennifer Stevenson, PhD | London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine |
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Responsible Party: | Radboud University |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01575613 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
REDHOT_OPP1024438 |
First Posted: | April 11, 2012 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | November 27, 2012 |
Last Verified: | November 2012 |
malaria heterogeneity transmission elimination |
Malaria Protozoan Infections Parasitic Diseases Lumefantrine Artemether |
Artemether, Lumefantrine Drug Combination Antimalarials Antiprotozoal Agents Antiparasitic Agents Anti-Infective Agents |