Leprosy ulcers in a rural hospital of Ethiopia: pattern of aerobic bacterial isolates and drug sensitivities.

BACKGROUND: Plantar ulcers, which commonly occur in leprosy patients, tend to recur increasing physical disability. The aim of this study is to identify both the bacteriological profile of these ulcers and the antibiotic susceptibility of the isolated bacteria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 68 leprosy patients with chronic ulcers attending the in-patient department of Gambo General Hospital, West Arsi, were included in this study. Proper sample collection, inoculation on culture media, and final identification using biochemical methods were undertaken. RESULTS: 66 patients (97.1%) had a positive culture. A total of 81 microorganisms were isolated. Multiple organisms (two or more) were isolated in 15 (22.7% out of positive culture) patients. The main isolation was Proteus spp (30.9%), followed by Escherichia coli (21.0%), Staphylococcus aureus (18.5%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (9.9%). In the total number of the isolated bacteria, the antibiotics with less resistance were gentamicin (18.5%), fosfomycin (22.2%) cefoxitin (24.7%), ceftriaxone (25.9%) ciprofloxacin (25.9%), and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (28.49%). CONCLUSION: The bacteriological study of plantar ulcers of leprosy patients revealed Enterobacteriaceae and S. aureus as the main pathogens involved in such infections. The results of this study may guide empirical therapy in a rural area hospital where culture and susceptibility testing facilities are scarce.

Trophic skin ulceration in leprosy: evaluation of the efficacy of topical phenytoin sodium zinc oxide paste.

BACKGROUND: The trophic or chronic plantar ulcer of leprosy is one of the principle causes of disability and deformity in the disease and has been given due importance in the evolution of its classification. In view of the diversity of its clinical implications, the World Health Organization was obliged to bring this entity under its remit in order to develop uniform guidelines to be applied around the globe. Despite relentless endeavor, its management continues to represent a dilemma. OBJECTIVES: The role of topical phenytoin sodium in wound healing led this group to evaluate its efficacy in the healing of trophic or chronic plantar ulcers. The success of the therapy was assessed according to the extent of regression in the size of the ulcer(s) following the formation of granulation tissue. METHODS: Forty patients released from leprosy control were recruited. A retrospective diagnosis was made in each case, and patients were grouped accordingly. Demographic data were recorded after the provision of informed consent. Bacterial cultures before and after treatment, and radiography were performed in each case. A phenytoin sodium fine powder zinc oxide paste dressing was applied every day for four weeks. Granulation was graded according to its appearance in order to evaluate the success of the topical therapy. RESULTS: Of the 40 patients, 26 (65.0%) borderline lepromatous leprosy patients had trophic ulcers, with the ball of the great toe being the most common site. Twelve (30.0%) patients had bone involvement. A total of 22 (55.0%) patients achieved complete resolution of the ulcer, and evidence of granulation formation was seen in 33 (82.5%) patients. The clearance of bacterial load after treatment was a significant finding. Zinc oxide paste per se was not effective, but its role as a vehicle was an asset. CONCLUSIONS: Phenytoin sodium zinc oxide paste was found to be an efficacious, cost-effective, and well-tolerated alternative therapy. Patient compliance was good. Bone involvement contributed to poor wound healing, but the clearance of bacterial load was significant.

Community acquired multi drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a rural setting of North Western Ethiopia: a tough challenge.

Commnunity acquired Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus species are common causes of skin and soft tissue infections. Foot ulcer of former leprosy patients can be invaded by a multi-microbial infection. Cervicitis is usually caused by certain sexually transmitted agents. Here we report a series of cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, isolated from two patients presenting with foot ulcer and cervicitis respectively, both in an outpatient or community setting (community onset) in rural North Western Ethiopia. The strains were resistant to all commonly available drugs such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol and tetracycline but sensitive to clindamycin. This is the first report of CA-MRSA in the study area.

Treatment of lepromatous ulcers using citric acid as a sole antimicrobial agent.

A prospective study was carried out to assess the role of citric acid as a sole antimicrobial agent in the management of lepromatous ulcers. Thirty-four known cases of lepromatous ulcers not responding to conventional antibiotic therapies for long duration were investigated for culture and susceptibility studies. Staphylococcus aureus (25·00%) and Klebsiella spp. (23·43%) were found to be the most common isolates. Amikacin (68·75%) and ciprofloxacin (67·18%) were found to be the most effective antimicrobial agents. Topical application of citric acid ointment resulted in complete healing in 25 (73·52%) cases. In eight cases (26·48%), there was elimination of infective agent from ulcer site and formation of healthy granulation, but no complete healing of ulcer was seen. Results indicate that citric acid is the best alternative for the effective management of lepromatous ulcers when other therapies are exhausted.

Shewanelia putrefaciens: a rare microbial agent associated with a non-healing ulcer in a leprosy patient.

Female aged 55 years presented with signs and symptoms of borderline lepromatous leprosy and presence of a non-healing ulcer and multiple haemorrhagic blisters over dorsum of both feet. Discharge from the various lesions was subjected to microbiological examination and an unusual organism Shewanella purtefaciens was isolated which was sensitive to most routine antibiotics. Patient responded well to cephadroxil therapy with uneventful and complete healing of ulcer and blisters.

Actinomycotic mycetoma due to Nocardia brasiliensis in a case of leprosy.

Various bacterial and fungal infections associated with non-healing ulcers in cases of leprosy have been reported (G Ebenzer et al, 2000, Rama Ramani et al, 1990). There are no reports of mycetoma associated with leprosy patients in the literature. We report here a case of actinomycotic mycetoma due to Nocardia brasiliensis associated with the non-healing plantar ulcer of a leprosy patient.

Bacteriological study of pus isolates from neuropathic plantar ulcers associated with acute inflammatory phase.

In this retrospective study, sensitivity of organisms cultured from ulcers of leprosy patients without and with diabetes mellitus, diabetic patients without leprosy and patients with ulcers from other causes was examined. The profile of organisms grown from these groups of patients did not differ significantly. However, there was a high prevalence of organisms like Proteus, E. coli and Enterococcus in the ulcers of leprosy patients indicating faecal contamination of the ulcers. Co-trimaxazole and tetracycline were of little value in the treatment of these ulcers. We therefore recommend that in situations where there is no culture facility, the patients be started on a course of penicillin and gentamycin. If these antibiotics fail, it would be necessary to use more advanced antibiotics like norfloxacin, amikacin and ciprofloxacin.

[Nature and sensitivity of bacteria superinfecting plantar ulcers caused by leprosy at the Marchoux Institute, Bamako, Mali]. / Nature et sensibilité des bactéries surinfectant les maux perforants plantaires d'origine lépreuse à l'Institut Marchoux, Bamako, Mali.

To determine potential usefulness of antimicrobial agents and to guide their prescription in the treatment of leprosy plantar ulcers, we conducted an in vitro study about germs' nature and sensitivity to antibiotics. We took samples of plantar ulcers secretion from 107 patients at Marchoux Institute. 92.5% of those ulcers were infected. These samples revealed 145 strains of micro-organisms among those, Staphylococcus aureus (70 strains) and genus Pseudomonas (41 strains) were the most frequent. These bacteria were resistant to several antibiotics currently used at Marchoux Institute (tetracycline, penicillin, cotrimoxazol and erythromicin). Antibiotics, efficient at 80% on tested strains, were expensive for patients. They cannot be recommended for the treatment of local infections. These results outline that the main treatment in plantar ulcers is based upon antiseptic solutions and keeping feet at rest. Antibiotherapy in case of extension of local infection would be based on the results of a previous study of sensitivity.

Progression of bone lesions in cured leprosy patients.

A group of 52 patients deemed to be cured of Hansen's disease were examined in order to determine the appearance or aggravation of bone lesions after cure. A study was made of X-rays performed both at the moment these patients were considered to be cured and a minimum of 2 years later. During the elapsing interval, new lesions had appeared in 8 patients, and existing lesions had worsened in 12 patients. Factors associated with the progression of lesions were: impaired sensitivity, physical activity and appearance of plantar ulcers. The authors feel that leprosy patients, even when considered to be bacteriologically cured, should undergo regular checkups. Factors which might aggravate bone lesions should be borne in mind.

[Simplification and codification of treatment for leprous plantar ulcers]. / Simplification et codification des soins aux maux perforants plantaires lépreux.

Practically leprous plantar ulcers (PU) are difficult to treat and heal under field condition. Considering the important number of patients showing a PU, the directors of national leprosy control programmes are determined, within the programmes on prevention of disabilities (POD), to treat the PU in the field. Therefore it appears to be essential to codify and simplify their treatment thus enabling it to be effective. The healing of PU being the only criteria of effectiveness of the technique. Four clinical stages were defined, each corresponding to a precise way of treatment using only essential and basic products at low cost. During the trainings about the treatment techniques and attitudes much emphasize is given on the discharge of the PU, on the trimming of the wound and on the products to use according to PU's evolutionary stage.

Plantar ulceration in patients with leprosy.

A controlled trial was implemented to investigate the hypothesis that plantar ulcer sites associated with leprosy, in subjects who were supplied with foot orthoses, would heal more quickly than those in a control group. The population was comprised of individuals with impairments associated with leprosy, living near a leprosy hospital in India. Ulcer area was compared in the two groups and assessed at three-monthly intervals from July 1993 to March 1994. At the March 1994 assessment 58% of ulcers in the experimental group had healed but only 14% in the control group. At this point patients in the control group were supplied with orthoses and three months later, in June 1994, 60% of the ulcers in the experimental group and 62% of ulcers in the control group had healed. The results of this study demonstrate that orthotic intervention can significantly reduce the duration of ulceration.

[The use of papain in plantar ulcers]. / Uso da papaína na úlcera plantar.

This work has as a goal to contribute to decrease the inability in leprosy and continuous recurrence of plantar ulcers, through the use of a treatment method using papaine and actions of health education. This work has been done in a health centre with patients that presented plantar ulcers and agreed to participate in the proposed treatment. Analysing and comparing the obtained data before and after treatment, a greater adhesion of patients to this treatment, a quicker healing in relation to other methods used before and a greater interaction with the patient has been observed.

[Tumoral proliferations in chronic plantar ulcers: how to treat?]. / Proliférations tumorales développées sur maux perforants plantaires: quelle attitude thérapeutique?

Between 1983 and 1994, 66 Senegalese leprosy patients were seen for cauliflower growths developed in chronic plantar ulcer (CPU), (2 patients had each 2 tumors). 68 biopsies for pathological examination were taken: the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma was effectively made in 39 cases (38 patients) and that of pseudo-epitheliomatous hyperplasia in the remaining 29 cases (28 patients). The mean annual frequency of cauliflower growths was 0.45 per 100 CPU. Among these tumors, the percentage of carcinoma was 57%. Of the 38 patients with a carcinoma, 5 refused amputation and all of them died. The 33 others were amputated and of these 8 died as a direct result of their carcinoma (24%). In the case of the 28 patients with hyperplasia, amputation was carried out on 18 patients and local excision on 10. In the months following the operation 8 recurrences were observed in 10 of the patients on whom excision had been carried out. These recurrences were treated by amputation. This gives a total of 93% of amputations in the cases of hyperplasia. These facts lead as to conclude that at least in countries where pathological examination is not available below knee amputation is the most reasonable action to take in the proliferative tumors developed on a CPU.

[The frequency of the appearance of perforating foot ulcers in patients with Hansen's disease as a function of treatment with disulone alone or with polychemotherapy]. / Fréquence d'apparition de maux perforants plantaires chez des malades hanséniens en fonction du traitement par disulone seule ou polychimiothérapie.

Between 1986 and 1989, in 5 departments of Senegal, 436 new cases of leprosy were detected, of whom 225 were put under dapsone monotherapy and 211 under multidrug therapy (MDT). Of them, 190 could be followed-up during 2 years by means of annual bacteriological and clinical examination, including neurological assessment. In 2 years, the onset of 10 (5.3%) chronic plantar ulcers (CPU) was observed: 4 (4%) among the 99 patients under dapsone monotherapy and 6 (6.6%) among the 91 under MDT (no significant difference). Of the 10 CPU, 3 (2%) appeared among the 149 patients without any disability at detection while 7 (17%) were observed among the 41 others who presented a grade 1 disability at detection (p < 0.01). Of the 6 CPU appeared in the patients under MDT, 5 (22%) were observed among the 23 who presented a grade 1 disability at detection and 1 (1.5%) among the 68 who did not (p < 0.01). This difference was not noted in the patients under dapsone monotherapy. Our results need to be confirmed by other studies including a higher number of patients followed-up during a longer period of time. Nevertheless, they suggest that MDT could prevent the onset of CPU, but only in patients without any disability at detection. Therefore, they reemphasize the importance of early detection of the disease in leprosy control programmes.