03258nas a2200613   4500000000100000008004100001100001600042700001600058700001200074700001200086700001100098700001900109700001200128700001900140700001700159700001700176700001300193700001800206700001800224700001200242700001200254700001500266700001500281700001100296700001300307700001400320700001300334700001300347700001200360700001200372700001000384700001300394700001200407700001500419700001200434700001300446700001700459700001600476700001400492700001500506700002000521700001100541700001300552700002100565700001300586700001400599700001400613700001800627245008800645856005100733300001200784490000700796520184100803       2018                            d1 aSteinmann P1 aCavaliero A1 aAerts A1 aAnand S1 aArif M1 aSarady Sao Ay 1 aAye T M1 aBarth-Jaeggi T1 aBanstola N L1 aBhandari C M1 aBlaney D1 aBonenberger M1 avan Brakel WH1 aCross H1 aDas V K1 aFahrudda A1 aFernando N1 aGani Z1 aGreter H1 aIgnotti E1 aKamara D1 aKasang C1 aKömm B1 aKumar A1 aLay S1 aMieras L1 aMirza F1 aMutayoba B1 aNjako B1 aPakasi T1 aSaunderson P1 aShengelia B1 aSmith C S1 aStäheli R1 aSuriyarachchi N1 aShwe T1 aTiwari A1 aWijesinghe M S D1 aBerkel J1 aPlaetse B1 aVirmond M1 aRichardus J H00aThe Leprosy Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (LPEP) programme: update and interim analysis  uhttps://leprosyreview.org/article/89/2/10-2116  a102-1160 v893 a<p>Summary<br />
Innovative approaches are required to further enhance leprosy control, reduce the number of people developing leprosy, and curb transmission. Early case detection, contact screening, and chemoprophylaxis currently is the most promising approach to achieve this goal. The Leprosy Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (LPEP) programme generates evidence on the feasibility of integrating contact tracing and single-dose rifampicin (SDR) administration into routine leprosy control activities in different settings.<br />
The LPEP programme is implemented within the leprosy control programmes of Brazil, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Tanzania. Focus is on three key interventions: tracing the contacts of newly diagnosed leprosy patients; screening the contacts for leprosy; and administering SDR to eligible contacts. Country-specific protocol adaptations refer to contact definition, minimal age for SDR, and staff involved. Central coordination, detailed documentation and rigorous supervision ensure quality evidence.<br />
Around 2 years of field work had been completed in seven countries by July 2017. The 5,941 enrolled index patients (89·4% of the registered) identified a total of 123,311 contacts, of which 99·1% were traced and screened. Among them, 406 new leprosy patients were identified (329/100,000), and 10,883 (8·9%) were excluded from SDR for various reasons. Also, 785 contacts (0·7%) refused the prophylactic treatment with SDR. Overall, SDR was administered to 89·0% of the listed contacts.<br />
Post-exposure prophylaxis with SDR is safe; can be integrated into the routines of different leprosy control programmes; and is generally well accepted by index patients, their contacts and the health workforce. The programme has also invigorated local leprosy control.</p>