The role of enteric pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in driving clinical and nutritional deterioration, and azithromycin's potential effect, among children discharged from hospital in Kenya

This study will test for enteropathogens and resistance genes in fecal samples and Escherichia coli collected from Kenyan children at hospital discharge and 3-months thereafter using qPCR and link this molecular data to re- hospitalization, vital status, and anthropometric data collected throughout the 6-month post-discharge period. Specific molecularly-determined pathogen or resistance markers that predict azithromycin’s effects on mortality, morbidity, and growth will elucidate mechanisms by which empiric azithromycin reduces child mortality and may identify specific populations who can be treated with azithromycin to maximize benefit while minimizing resistance.