@article{33577,
  author = {Richardus R and Alam K and Kundu K and Roy JC and Zafar T and Chowdhury A and Nieboer D and Faber R and Butlin CR and Geluk A and Richardus JH},
  title = {Effectiveness of single dose rifampicin after BCG-vaccination to prevent leprosy in close contacts of patients with newly diagnosed leprosy: a cluster randomized controlled trial.},
  abstract = {<p><strong>OBJECTIVE: </strong>To assess the effectiveness of SDR after BCG-vaccination in preventing leprosy in contacts.</p>

<p><strong>DESIGN: </strong>Single-centre, cluster-randomized controlled trial.</p>

<p><strong>SETTING: </strong>Leprosy control programme in northwest Bangladesh.</p>

<p><strong>PARTICIPANTS: </strong>14,988 contacts of 1,552 new leprosy patients; randomized in the SDR- arm (7,379) and SDR + arm (7,609).</p>

<p><strong>INTERVENTIONS: </strong>Intervention group: BCG-vaccination followed by SDR 8-12 weeks later.</p>

<p><strong>CONTROL GROUP: </strong>BCG only.</p>

<p><strong>FOLLOW-UP: </strong>at one and two years after intake.</p>

<p><strong>MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: </strong>The occurrence of leprosy.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>The incidence rate per 10,000 person-years-at-risk was 44 in the SDR- arm and 31 in the SDR + at 1 year, and 34 in the SDR- arm and 41 in the SDR + arm at 2 years. There was a statistically non-significant (p = 0.148; 42%) reduction for PB leprosy in the SDR + arm at 1 year. Of all new cases, 33.6% appeared within 8-12 weeks after BCG-vaccination.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>In the first year, SDR after BCG-vaccination reduced PB leprosy incidence among contacts by 42%. This was a statistically non-significant reduction due to the limited number of cases after SDR was administered. To which extent SDR suppresses excess leprosy cases after BCG-vaccination is difficult to establish because many appeared before the SDR intervention.</p>

<p><strong>TRIAL REGISTRATION: </strong>Netherlands Trial Register: NTR3087.</p>
},
  year = {2019},
  journal = {International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases},
  issn = {1878-3511},
  url = {https://www.ijidonline.com/article/S1201-9712(19)30365-0/pdf},
  doi = {10.1016/j.ijid.2019.08.035},
  language = {eng},
}