Dapsone-resistant leprosy

Abstract

It is likely that in 1983 over 10% of patients with lepromatous leprosy have developed dapsone resistance; the primary resistance rate of new cases is probably about 25%. Patients with active dapsone-resistant leprosy who are still receiving only dapsone monotherapy may well form a larger source of infection than all other infectious cases. Supervisable and cost-effective drug regimens designed to prevent the emergence of dapsone resistance and to control the infectivity of dapsone-resistant cases deserve urgent consideration.