Drug resistance patterns in Mycobacterium leprae isolates from relapsed leprosy patients attending The Leprosy Mission (TLM) Hospitals in India

摘要

Implementation of multidrug therapy (MDT) in leprosy controlprogrammes has significantly reduced the global prevalence of the disease in thelast two decades. After many years of use of MDT, it is expected that drug resistancein Mycobacterium leprae may emerge. This is a major concern, especially duringthe stage of elimination. In the present study, slit-skin smears were collected from140 leprosy relapse cases from different Leprosy Mission hospitals across India.DNA extracted from 111 (79%) of these samples was analysed for the genesassociated with drug resistance in M. leprae. More than 90% of the patients relapsedas multibacillary (MB) cases. In our study, four (3·6%) of the DNA samples analysed showed mutations associated with rifampicin resistance. We also observed that mutations associated with resistance to dapsone and ofloxacin were observed in 9 (8·1%) of the DNA samples each; two samples had both dapsone and ofloxacin resistance. Further surveillance and appropriate interventions are needed to ensure the continued success of chemotherapy for leprosy.