Assessment of parasite clearance following treatment of severe malaria with intravenous artesunate in Ugandan children enrolled in a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Parasite clearance following treatment with intravenous artesunate was rapid and adequate. This finding provides supportive evidence that resistance to artemisinins is unlikely to have emerged in this study area. Continuous monitoring of artemisinin effectiveness for malaria treatment should be established in high malaria transmission areas in sub-Saharan Africa where spread of resistance would be disastrous. Trial registration The study was registered with the Pan African Clinical Trial Registry (PACTR201110000321348). Registered 7th October 2011, http://www.pactr.org/ ).