Effect of single dose (1500 mg) rifampicin on infectivity of patients with lepromatous leprosy.

The effect of treatment with a single dose of Rifampicin (1500 mg) has been investigated in previously untreated lepromatous leprosy patients. A group of 14 cases were administered 1500 mg of Rifampicin in a single dose along with 100 mg Dapsone (DDS) daily. A control group received only 100 mg DDS daily. The patients were followed up for a period of 24 weeks. The clinical, bacteriological and results of mouse foot-pad inoculations do not indicate a significant advantage of the addition of a single dose of Rifampicin to the conventional therapy with DDA.