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Utility of 8-Aminoquinolines in Malaria Prophylaxis in Travelers

  • Tropical, Travel and Emerging Infections (L Chen and A Boggild, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Infectious Disease Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

To review the current status of 8-aminoquinolines in the prophylaxis of malaria among travelers, in light of the recent approval of tafenoquine.

Recent Findings

Primaquine continues to provide excellent primary prophylaxis against all Plasmodium species. Tafenoquine provides similarly good prophylaxis, with the benefit of weekly dosing. Both agents require glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity testing before use and are contraindicated in pregnancy. Pharmacodynamic variability relating to CYP2D6 may underlie some cases of primaquine failure; the effects of CYP2D6 on tafenoquine efficacy require further study.

Summary

Tafenoquine and primaquine are the only current drugs that provide complete malaria prophylaxis, and should be considered the agents of choice in areas where both P. vivax and falciparum are frequent. Monthly tafenoquine is promising and should be further studied in travelers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Geographic Medicine and Department of Medicine C, Sheba Medical Center, 52621, Tel Hashomer, Israel

    Eyal Meltzer & Eli Schwartz

  2. Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Eyal Meltzer & Eli Schwartz

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  1. Eyal Meltzer
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  2. Eli Schwartz
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Meltzer, E., Schwartz, E. Utility of 8-Aminoquinolines in Malaria Prophylaxis in Travelers. Curr Infect Dis Rep 21, 43 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11908-019-0698-1

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