Misleading Report on Artesunate Resistance

Abstract

Artemsinin resistance is defined as a delayed clearance after treatment with an artemsinin-based combination therapy or artesunate [1]. The case reported in the article does not meet the WHO classification. It is not specified if the patient was positive at day 3 and if any K13 mutation (marker of artemisinin resistance) was detected at day 0. It is also not clear whether at day of failure it was new infection or recrudescence since details of genotyping are not given. Finally the patient responded to ACT with a rapid clearance of parasitaemia within 24 hours which is not in favour of artemisinin resistance