@article{99777,
  keywords = {Mycobacterium leprae, Feasibility Studies, Household contacts, leprosy, Post-exposure prophylaxis, single-dose rifampicin},
  author = {Campbell P and Bauro T and Rimon E and Timeon E and Bland C and Ioteba N and Douglas N and Cunanan A and Chambers S},
  title = {Single-Dose Rifampicin Leprosy Chemoprophylaxis for Household Contacts in Kiribati: An Audit of a Combined Retrospective and Prospective Approach.},
  abstract = {<p>Kiribati is a Pacific Island nation with a widely dispersed population and one of the highest rates of leprosy worldwide. Single-dose rifampicin post-exposure prophylaxis (SDR-PEP) of leprosy contacts has reduced new case detection rates in controlled trials. In 2018, an SDR-PEP programme was introduced in Kiribati that included screening and chemoprophylaxis of household contacts of leprosy cases retrospectively (2010-2017) and prospectively (2018-2022). We conducted a retrospective audit to determine the comprehensiveness, timeliness and feasibility of the SDR-PEP programme. Overall, 13,641 household contacts were identified (9791 in the retrospective and 3850 in the prospective cohort). In the retrospective cohort, 1044 (11%) contacts were absent, 403 (4%) were ineligible for SDR, and 42 new cases were detected (0.4%) Overall, SDR coverage was 84.7%. In the prospective cohort, 164 (4%) contacts were absent, 251 (7%) were ineligible for SDR, and 23 new cases were diagnosed (0.6%). Overall, SDR coverage was 88.1%. Across both cohorts, there were 23 SDR refusals. The median time to SDR administration was 220 days (IQR 162-468) and 120 days (IQR 36-283) for the retrospective and prospective cohorts, respectively. SDR was readily accepted in both cohorts. The new case detection rate (0.5%) is consistent with that in other studies. Overall SDR coverage in both the retrospective and prospective phases met programmatic expectations.</p>
},
  year = {2024},
  journal = {Tropical medicine and infectious disease},
  volume = {9},
  pages = {1-11},
  month = {03/2024},
  issn = {2414-6366},
  url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/9/3/58/pdf?version=1709286138},
  doi = {10.3390/tropicalmed9030058},
  language = {eng},
}