Novel Interventions and Diagnostic Tests for Leprosy

Launched by ANNEMIEKE GELUK · Jan 15, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying new ways to detect and prevent leprosy, a disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae. The focus is on finding individuals who might be infected but do not yet show symptoms. By identifying these people early, health workers can provide treatment to stop the spread of leprosy. The study will use a test called UCP-LFA, which helps determine if someone is infected with the bacteria before and after giving a preventive treatment called single dose rifampin (SDR).

To participate in this trial, you need to be a household contact of a newly diagnosed leprosy patient or be one of those patients yourself. Eligible participants should be living in the same household or compound, sharing a kitchen, or being direct neighbors. The study is open to individuals aged 18 and older, regardless of gender. Participants can expect to undergo some tests and receive health education about leprosy during the study. It's important to know that anyone currently being treated for leprosy or tuberculosis, pregnant women, and young children (under 5 years old) are not eligible to join.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria patients:
• • - newly diagnosed multibacillary leprosy patients (BI 1-6)
• Inclusion Criteria contacts of MB leprosy patients:
• • living in the same house (household members)
• • living in a house on the same compound
• • sharing the same kitchen
• • direct neighbors (first neighbors)
• • willing to participate
• • provide informed consent
• Exclusion Criteria patients:
• • refusal of examination of their contacts
• • suffering from the pure neural form of leprosy
• • residing only temporarily in the study area
• • PB leprosy patients
• Exclusion Criteria contacts:
• • diagnosed as leprosy patients during contact examination
• • living less than 100 m away from a patient already included in the study
• • first and second degree relatives of a patient already included in the study
• • refusal informed consent
• • pregnancy
• • tuberculosis or leprosy treatment
• • below 5 years of age
• • known to suffer from liver disease or jaundice
• • residing temporarily in the study area