Leprosy Mailing List – October 3rd, 2007
Ref.: Treatment of
leprosy with ofloxacillin ad tetracycline daily
From:
Bhattarai B. M., Pokhara, Nepal
Dear Salvatore,
Greeting from Green Pastures Hospital. I refer to Dr Periche
Fernandez’ message about alternative treatment regimens for leprosy
patients not tolerating dapsone or rifampicin (LML September 7th,
2007).
I had
also faced similar problem in my patients with hypersensitivity
reaction with both rifampicin and dapsone. We also do not have
minocycline in Nepal. The
patient was
multibacillary (MB) type with 4+ smear positive, I used ofloxacillin
400mg/day and tetracycline 1000mg/day, then I checked smear every
three months. The smear
result became completely negative by 18 months.
The rate of decrease of BI is faster
than that with the conventional regimens. I think 1 year would be
sufficient for MB patient and 6months for paucibacillary (PB) patient. Although we gave for 18 months
until the smear became negative.
I also noticed that this patient only had one episode of lepra
(erythema nodosum leprosum) reaction.
Best regards,
Dr. Biswa Mohan Bhattarai
Dermatologist and Leprologist
Green Pastures Hospital
Pokhara
Nepal
