Effectiveness of artemether–lumefantrine for treating uncomplicated malaria in low- and high-transmission areas of Ghana

A recent study assessed the real-world effectiveness of artemether–lumefantrine (AL) for unsupervised malaria treatment in two regions of Ghana. In a 28-day follow-up study involving 84 patients with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria, AL demonstrated strong but regionally variable effectiveness. Patients from southern Ghana (low transmission) had a 100% cure rate, while those from northern Ghana (high transmission) showed a PCR-corrected cure rate of 89.4%, slightly below the WHO-recommended 90% threshold. Recurrent cases in the north were attributed to parasite recrudescence, not reinfection. The findings highlight that while AL remains effective, adherence and transmission intensity influence outcomes under unsupervised conditions, stressing the need for enhanced patient education and monitoring.