01529nas a2200217   4500000000100000008004100001653003900042653003100081653003300112653002300145653001800168653002000186653001600206100001400222700001200236700001700248700001300265245011100278520090800389022001401297       2018                            d10aNeglected tropical diseases (NTDs)10aSoil-transmitted helminths10aPreventive chemotherapy (PC)10aAnthelmintic drugs10aDrug efficacy10aDrug Resistance10aWorm burden1 aSchulz JD1 aMoser W1 aHürlimann E1 aKeiser J00aPreventive chemotherapy in the fight against soil-transmitted helminthiasis: Achievements and limitations.3 a<p>Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) are endemic in more than half of the world's countries. The World Health Organization has advocated targeted preventive chemotherapy (PC) to control STH infections by distributing albendazole or mebendazole to at-risk populations. While the overall impact and sustainability of this strategy is disputed, a decrease in moderate and heavy STH infections can be largely attributed to a scale-up of drug distribution. Two factors might jeopardise the success of PC programs. First, the benzimidazoles possess unsatisfactory efficacy against Trichuris trichiura infections. Second, increased drug distributions might trigger anthelmintic resistance. This review presents an overview of the burden of STH infections, the evolution of PC along with its success and challenges, recent estimates of the efficacy of recommended drugs, and alternative treatment options.</p>
  a1471-5007