Bacterial clearance with WHO--recommended multidrug regimen for multibacillary leprosy.

Sixty multibacillary leprosy patients with an average initial bacteriological index (BI) of 2.5 were followed up after they had completed the WHO--recommended multidrug therapy regularly till attaining bacteriological negativity. The minimum duration of treatment was two years as stipulated by WHO and the maximum duration for reaching negativity was seven years (mean 4.25 years). The minimum time for the attainment of bacteriological negativity was one year and the maximum was 6.75 years (mean 3.75 years). The higher the initial BI the longer was the time taken for the attainment of bacteriological negativity. The average fall of BI per year was 0.67. Dapsone monotherapy received before the commencement of MDT, prednisolone received during therapy and the type of leprosy did not have any effect on the time taken for bacteriological clearance. There was no relapse during the period of observation (mean 2.83 years). The site to attain negativity last was the ear lobe, in 95% of the cases.