Moxifloxacin for Buruli ulcer/HIV-coinfected patients: Kill two birds with one stone? Author reply

摘要

We thank Klis et al. [1] for contributing to the debate around our proposal to study the safety and effectiveness of moxifloxacin (MXF)-rifampicin (RIF) antibiotic regimens for Buruli ulcer treatment in HIV-infected individuals [1,2]. To further the debate, we would like to respond to some of the arguments made against the proposed research presented in their letter. Firstly, they state that 'the highest Buruli ulcer case rates are observed in rural areas of West Africa where HIV prevalence is low'. However, the estimated HIV prevalence in all 11 countries currently reporting Buruli ulcer cases in West and Central Africa is between 1% and 5% of the general adult population, which places them in the category of having generalized HIV epidemics [3]. Therefore, addressing HIV coinfection in African Buruli ulcer patients is important.