Wits RHI is a research and implementation Institute that is dynamic, progressive, and responsive to global and local health emergencies. We pioneer cutting-edge science and innovation in the fields of infectious and vaccine preventable diseases; maternal and family health; antimicrobial resistance, climate change and emerging crises.
Our strength lies in our multi-disciplinary and holistic approach to improving health outcomes at a local and global level through research, technical
assistance, advocacy, policy development, implementation science and health systems strengthening. We identify health problems through sound epidemiological methods and qualitative research, and use a range of analytic and research methods to generate evidence and test and evaluate interventions in a real word setting.
We are a part of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand, a world-class African University.
We are a Joint United Nations Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) and South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) collaborating centre and a strategic partner to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Our work is focused on populations that are most in need, marginalised, or hard to reach. These include:
Abstract
The World Health Organization recommended levofloxacin for tuberculosis (TB) preventive treatment for child and adult contacts of multidrug-resistant (MDR)-TB. TB-CHAMP was a double-blind community-based multi-site randomised placebo-controlled trial assessing levofloxacin as preventive treatment in children with household exposure to adults with microbiologically-confirmed MDR-TB in South Africa. Households were randomised 1:1 to 24-weeks daily levofloxacin (adult scored 250mg tablets) versus placebo. Treatment adherence was ascertained through pill counts and treatment cards.