Case Report: Multidrug-Resistant Mycobacterium leprae in a Case of Smear-Negative Relapse.

We report a case of multidrug-resistant M. leprae in a case of relapse where slit skin smear (SSS) was negative and histopathology was inconclusive. Drug resistance studies in leprosy are undertaken only in smear-positive relapse cases, and detection of this type of multidrug resistance in a case with negative SSS and innocuous histopathology is rather unusual and highlights the importance of undertaking drug resistance tests even in smear-negative cases of leprosy relapse. Resistance to ofloxacin (OFL) is also a cause for concern as OFL is one of the reserve drugs recommended for treatment of rifampicin-resistant strains. PMID: 32043454 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Tags: Am J Trop Med Hyg Source Type: research