I realise that my response is a bit late, but there is some peer-reviewed literature on this matter. The most relevant paper would be this one from 2005. The main results are:
(...) trichiasis surgery with 80% coverage of the population would avert more than 11 million DALYs per year globally, with cost effectiveness ranging from I$13 to I$78 per DALY averted, which is below the cost-effectiveness threshold of three times GDP per capita. Mass antibiotic treatment using azythromycin at prevailing market prices at 95% coverage level would avert more than 4 million DALYs per year globally and is most cost-effective among antibiotic interventions with ratio’s ranging between I$9,000 and I$65,000 per DALY averted. However, the cost per DALY averted exceeds the cost-effectiveness threshold.
Unfortunately, I am not aware of any more recent paper using updated azythromycin costs. It would be interesting for someone to perform a new cost-effectiveness study based on the 2015 International Medical Products Price Guide, as the price of azythromycin is known to have decreased since 2005. There is, however, a recent study restricted to Malawi that suggests that mass treatment with azythromycin may be cost-effective.
Hey Wubbles,
I realise that my response is a bit late, but there is some peer-reviewed literature on this matter. The most relevant paper would be this one from 2005. The main results are:
Unfortunately, I am not aware of any more recent paper using updated azythromycin costs. It would be interesting for someone to perform a new cost-effectiveness study based on the 2015 International Medical Products Price Guide, as the price of azythromycin is known to have decreased since 2005. There is, however, a recent study restricted to Malawi that suggests that mass treatment with azythromycin may be cost-effective.