Antimicrobial Stewardship Program: Time to be Focused in Speciality Settings of Leprosy Institute and Related Health Care Setup.

Leprosy, often known as Hansen's disease is a contagious chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae). Our methodology is easily repeatable in tertiary care settings with diagnostic accuracy resources and staff capable of building a stewardship team. Comprehensive antimicrobial policies and programmes are required to properly alleviate the initial issue.

Nutritional Status in Leprosy Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy, a chronic mycobacterial disease, is frequently accompanied by malnutrition. However, it is important to regularly assess the nutritional state of leprosy patients in a resource-poor nation like India, where undernutrition is widespread. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the nutritional status of leprosy patients to that of normal individuals using the body mass index. METHODS: The electronic databases PubMed, Google Scholar, and Embase were used to conduct an open literature search. From 1st January 2000 to 31st January 2023, all articles were screened using the following MeSH terms: (nutrition OR body mass index OR body weight) AND (leprosy OR lepra) to find possibly relevant articles. RESULTS: This meta-analysis includes five research studies with a total of 1173 individuals (363 patients in the leprosy group and 810 patients in the non-leprosy group). The weighted mean difference (WMD) for BMI studies was -17.88 (95% CI -27.65 to -8.12), showing that there was a significant difference in BMI < 18.5 between leprosy patients and non-leprosy patients. There was a significant difference in DDS score and HFIAS score between patients with leprosy and non-leprosy. In a total of 342 leprosy patients, 206 developed deformities. CONCLUSION: This research increases our understanding of nutrition and leprosy. The results found that people with leprosy are nutritionally at a distinct disadvantage when compared to non-leprosy patients. It emphasises the several ways in which diet may generate circumstances that increase the risk of leprosy.

A Change in the Trend of Quality Reporting in Leprosy Trials: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy is a communicable disease caused by bacteria Mycobacterium leprae. Despite all attempts, it has not been eradicated in several underdeveloped nations since the start of the antibiotic age. It's a social issue as well as a stigmatised disease. Due to these restrictions, randomised controlled trials in leprosy confront numerous obstacles, which are reflected in the quality of study reporting. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to use the Consolidated Standard for Reporting Trials (CONSORT) 2010 checklist to assess the quality of leprosy trial reporting. METHODS: We assess the quality of reporting of randomised control trials on leprosy conducted after 2010 in the PubMed database, using the CONSORT checklist 2010. Second, we compare the quality of RCT reporting before and after the release of the CONSORT guidelines in 2010. RESULTS: A total of 19 full-text eligible articles were examined and included in the final list of articles, which were then evaluated further. 4 out of 19 trials had a compliance percentage of more than 75%. 6 out of 19 trials had compliance percentage of 50% to 75%. 9 trials had a compliance percentage of below 50%. Highest compliance was 86.48% and the lowest compliance was 32.43%. When compared with trials before 2010, we could see an improvement in some criteria showing a statistically significant rise in comparison with trials conducted before 2010. CONCLUSION: Leprosy is still a concern in developing countries, which have failed to eradicate the disease despite their best efforts and resources. The compliance of leprosy related RCTs has improved since the introduction of the CONSORT guidelines, but the quality of reporting still remains on the lower side.

A Perspective into "TEL"-Tenofovir, Emtricitabine and Lamivudine Antileprotic Activities by Drug Repurposing and Exploring the Possibility of Combination Chemotherapy with Drug Rescued Molecules for a Leprosy Free Mankind.

BACKGROUND: Since leprosy bacilli cannot grow in vitro, testing for antimicrobial resistance against Mycobacterium leprae or assessing the anti-leprosy activity of new drugs remains hard. Furthermore, developing a new leprosy drug through the traditional drug development process is not economically captivating for pharmaceutical companies. As a result, repurposing existing drugs/approved medications or their derivatives to test their anti-leprotic potency is a promising alternative. It is an accelerated method to uncover different medicinal and therapeutic properties in approved drug molecules. AIMS: The study aims to explore the binding potential of anti-viral drugs such as Tenofovir, Emtricitabine, and Lamivudine (TEL) against Mycobacterium leprae using molecular docking. METHODS: The current study evaluated and confirmed the possibility of repurposing antiviral drugs such as TEL (Tenofovir, Emtricitabine, and Lamivudine) by transferring the graphical window of the BIOVIA DS2017 with the Crystal Structure of a phosphoglycerate mutase gpm1 from Mycobacterium leprae (PDB ID: 4EO9). Utilizing the smart minimizer algorithm, the protein's energy was reduced in order to achieve a stable local minima conformation. RESULTS: The protein and molecule energy minimization protocol generated stable configuration energy molecules. The protein 4EO9 energy was reduced from 14264.5 kcal/mol to -17588.1 kcal/mol. CONCLUSION: The CHARMm algorithm-based CDOCKER run docked all three molecules (TEL) inside the 4EO9 protein binding pocket (Mycobacterium leprae). The interaction analysis revealed that tenofovir had a better binding molecule with a score of - 37.7297 kcal/mol than the other molecules.

Leprosy Reactions: Clinical Pharmacologist Perspective with Repurposed Medications.

The elimination of leprosy has been possible with the available anti-leprotic drugs. However, the lepra reactions usually occur months or years after multi-drug therapy completion, and continue to be a formidable challenge mainly owing to its role in causing nerve damage and disability. Corticosteroids are commonly used but they lead to systemic complications, and hence require dose reduction and adjunct therapy with a different target. Various drugs with different targets have been identified and are in practice to treat lepra reactions. The newer targets can include genetic and tissue targets in the skin and nerve. Thalidomide treatment reducing pentraxin-3, toll-like receptor antagonists, minocycline, apremilast, immunomodulators, and tenidap can be helpful in lepra reaction. Other modalities to manage lepra reactions include plasma exchange, intravenous immunoglobulins, and immunotherapy. Most of these treatments are based only on the pathological process of the reaction and tend to be incomplete leading to recurrence. Newer multimodal approaches are required based on various biomarkers (genetic, tissue, serological), which can be monitored to prevent the recurrence of reactions. Hence, there is a need for newer targets and drugs to be identified for the management of lepra reactions.

Vigilance Needed in Treating Leprosy Patients in Accordance with WHO's AWaRe.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy is a highly stigmatized disease that can range from a minor skin lesion to life-threatening conditions such as deformities and disability. The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a tool called "Access, Watch, and Reserve" (AWaRe) to reduce antibiotic misuse and abuse. AIM: The purpose of this review is to determine whether the drugs used in the leprosy treatment regimen are complied with the AWaRe programme, in order to improve the quality of hospital antibiotic use and reduce the incidence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). METHODS: We started by looking for antibiotics that are used in the treatment and chemoprophylaxis of leprosy, as defined by the WHO's AWaRe classification. Furthermore, we look for studies on antibiotics that showed sensitivity or less resistance after antimicrobial sensitivity testing (AST) on isolates from infected leprosy ulcers, as well as their AWaRe category. RESULTS: There were 32 studies found, but only 5 of them met the inclusion criteria. They consisted of four cross-sectional studies and one descriptive retrospective study. A total of 19 antibiotics were identified in 5 studies, with 9 (47.4%) antibiotics in the access category, 8 (42.1%) antibiotics in the watch group, and 2 (10.5%) antibiotics in the reserve group. CONCLUSION: As per our knowledge, this is the first study to explore antibiotics in leprosy treatment, chemoprophylaxis, and complications such as ulcer compliance with the AWaRe programme. Antimicrobial resistance is on the rise, which is a global issue that continues to pose challenges to clinical practices. This review may provide physicians with an overview of the current state of drug prescribing trends in leprosy, whether in accordance with the AWaRe classification in selecting the right drug when the use of antimicrobials is indicated and may also aid in rational drug prescribing.

Target/therapies for chronic recurrent erythema nodosum leprosum.

A Type 2 lepra reaction or erythema nodosum leprosum is an anticipated complication in the lepromatous spectrum of leprosy cases. It is an example of an immune complex-mediated complement activated disease (Type III hypersensitivity reaction). Hence, we tried to target the inflammatory mediators and the mental stressors for the possible management strategies.

Rationale use of Thalidomide in erythema nodosum leprosum - A non-systematic critical analysis of published case reports.

INTRODUCTION: Thalidomide is an anti- tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) drug used mainly in the management of moderate to severe form of Erythema Nodosum Leprosum (ENL). Because of its teratogenic potential it has to be used under proper supervision. Our critical analysis tries to look into the rationale with which it has been used by means of case reports on lepra reaction. METHODS: We looked for the case reports between December 2005 to June 2019 in databases like Pubmed, Embase and other relevant resources. We used search words like "erythema nodosum leprosum(ENL)", "thalidomide", "case report" in different combinations to get relevant reports that focus on thalidomide usage atleast once at any time point during management. The information extracted were indication of thalidomide use, dose, response, outcome, complication if any, along with all the demographic details and geographical distribution. RESULTS: We found 41 case reports eligible for analysis.The information was critically evaluated. From the analysis it was found that 7 of the case report mentioned the exact indication, 4 case report showed irrational use of thalidomide in the case of neuritis without use of steroids, 7 showed proper use of Clofazimine prior to thalidomide initiation, 26 case report showed case report of rationale dose range and in 4 case reports clofazimine was used prior to thalidomide along with the rational dose of thalidomide. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis helps to guide the rationale use of thalidomide focussing on few important points that anyone should keep in mind while managing a case of ENL.

Nutritional status and morbidity profile of children with leprosy contact in a rural community.

An observational pilot study was conducted to assess the nutritional status and morbidity profile of childhood contacts of leprosy in an endemic area (Chengalpattu) in India. A total of 70 such children were included in the study. Sociodemographic data were collected using a one-to-one interview method and the children were evaluated by dermatologists qualified in paediatric leprosy. The obtained data were computed. Three children were diagnosed to have leprosy through this study. Nutritional status assessment in these children demonstrated malnutrition, a common finding. Regular contact screening of children in endemic areas for early case detection, disability prevention and thereby prevention of community transmission is mandatory. Further research is needed concerning the role of malnutrition in children and its relation to morbidity in leprosy. The closeness and duration of contact of leprosy is also an important risk factor. Effective strategies to diagnose subclinical infection are needed.

Rationale use of Thalidomide in erythema nodosum leprosum - A non-systematic critical analysis of published case reports

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Thalidomide is an anti- tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) drug used mainly in the management of moderate to severe form of Erythema Nodosum Leprosum (ENL). Because of its teratogenic potential it has to be used under proper supervision. Our critical analysis tries to look into the rationale with which it has been used by means of case reports on lepra reaction. METHODS: We looked for the case reports between December 2005 to June 2019 in databases like Pubmed, Embase and other relevant resources. We used search words like "erythema nodosum leprosum(ENL)", "thalidomide", "case report" in different combinations to get relevant reports that focus on thalidomide usage atleast once at any time point during management. The information extracted were indication of thalidomide use, dose, response, outcome, complication if any, along with all the demographic details and geographical distribution. RESULTS: We found 41 case reports eligible for analysis.The information was critically evaluated. From the analysis it was found that 7 of the case report mentioned the exact indication, 4 case report showed irrational use of thalidomide in the case of neuritis without use of steroids, 7 showed proper use of Clofazimine prior to thalidomide initiation, 26 case report showed case report of rationale dose range and in 4 case reports clofazimine was used prior to thalidomide along with the rational dose of thalidomide. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis helps to guide the rationale use of thalidomide focussing on few important points that anyone should keep in mind while managing a case of ENL.