Persistence of viable bacilli in highly bacilliferous multibacillary leprosy patients after the twelve doses of multidrug therapy WHO/MDT

Abstract

The present study evaluate the efficacy of twelve doses of multidrug therapy, as suggested by World Health Organization, in ten lepromatous leprosy patients with bacilloscopic index equal or higher than 4. The patients have taken the doses in twelve month-doses regularly. At the end of treatment a specimen was collected by punch biopsy and inoculated into mouse hind footpad according to Shepard´s technique. Persistence of viable bacilli was demonstrated in three patients. In spite of the small number of patients, same results have been found by other authors, showing that in highly bacilliferous leprosy patients, at the beginning of treatment more doses may be required to prevent relapses.