Rifampicin and ofloxacin dual therapy as an adjunct to standard MB-MDT in the management of nodulo-ulcerative lepromatous leprosy with histoid-like features: a case report

Leprosy, induced by Mycobacterium leprae, and in some cases, Mycobacterium lepromatosis, remains an important public health issue in endemic regions despite ongoing elimination efforts. Histoid Hansen’s disease, a variant of lepromatous leprosy, is characterised by shiny, well-defined nodules and a...

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Main Authors: Varun H, Adarshlata Singh, Bhushan Madke, Anurag Mittal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1596617/full
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author Varun H
Adarshlata Singh
Bhushan Madke
Anurag Mittal
author_facet Varun H
Adarshlata Singh
Bhushan Madke
Anurag Mittal
author_sort Varun H
collection DOAJ
description Leprosy, induced by Mycobacterium leprae, and in some cases, Mycobacterium lepromatosis, remains an important public health issue in endemic regions despite ongoing elimination efforts. Histoid Hansen’s disease, a variant of lepromatous leprosy, is characterised by shiny, well-defined nodules and a heavy acid-fast bacillary load. We present a case of a 50-year-old male agricultural worker from rural central India presenting during a community health camp with multiple cutaneous nodules clinically suggestive of histoid leprosy. Slit-skin-smears (SSS) revealed abundant needle-shaped acid-fast bacilli, with numerous globi, whereas histopathological examination of a lesional biopsy supported the diagnosis of lepromatous leprosy (LL). This report presents a novel two-step treatment approach that is aimed at rapidly reducing infectivity using a 28-day course of rifampicin and ofloxacin (RO therapy), followed by initiation of multi-bacillary multidrug therapy (MB-MDT) to ensure sustained bacillary clearance. Repeat SSS demonstrated fragmented and granular acid-fast bacilli, indicating effective bactericidal activity. This case underscores the need for vigilant surveillance, early identification, and potential strategies to combat relapses and drug-resistant strains in the post-elimination era.
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spelling doaj-art-863e7b73897a41a6bb7483d89c8e47ca2025-08-25T04:10:22ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-08-011210.3389/fmed.2025.15966171596617Rifampicin and ofloxacin dual therapy as an adjunct to standard MB-MDT in the management of nodulo-ulcerative lepromatous leprosy with histoid-like features: a case reportVarun HAdarshlata SinghBhushan MadkeAnurag MittalLeprosy, induced by Mycobacterium leprae, and in some cases, Mycobacterium lepromatosis, remains an important public health issue in endemic regions despite ongoing elimination efforts. Histoid Hansen’s disease, a variant of lepromatous leprosy, is characterised by shiny, well-defined nodules and a heavy acid-fast bacillary load. We present a case of a 50-year-old male agricultural worker from rural central India presenting during a community health camp with multiple cutaneous nodules clinically suggestive of histoid leprosy. Slit-skin-smears (SSS) revealed abundant needle-shaped acid-fast bacilli, with numerous globi, whereas histopathological examination of a lesional biopsy supported the diagnosis of lepromatous leprosy (LL). This report presents a novel two-step treatment approach that is aimed at rapidly reducing infectivity using a 28-day course of rifampicin and ofloxacin (RO therapy), followed by initiation of multi-bacillary multidrug therapy (MB-MDT) to ensure sustained bacillary clearance. Repeat SSS demonstrated fragmented and granular acid-fast bacilli, indicating effective bactericidal activity. This case underscores the need for vigilant surveillance, early identification, and potential strategies to combat relapses and drug-resistant strains in the post-elimination era.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1596617/fullleprosyHansen’s diseaselepromatous leprosynovel treatmenttreatment regimehistoid Hansen
spellingShingle Varun H
Adarshlata Singh
Bhushan Madke
Anurag Mittal
Rifampicin and ofloxacin dual therapy as an adjunct to standard MB-MDT in the management of nodulo-ulcerative lepromatous leprosy with histoid-like features: a case report
Frontiers in Medicine
leprosy
Hansen’s disease
lepromatous leprosy
novel treatment
treatment regime
histoid Hansen
title Rifampicin and ofloxacin dual therapy as an adjunct to standard MB-MDT in the management of nodulo-ulcerative lepromatous leprosy with histoid-like features: a case report
title_full Rifampicin and ofloxacin dual therapy as an adjunct to standard MB-MDT in the management of nodulo-ulcerative lepromatous leprosy with histoid-like features: a case report
title_fullStr Rifampicin and ofloxacin dual therapy as an adjunct to standard MB-MDT in the management of nodulo-ulcerative lepromatous leprosy with histoid-like features: a case report
title_full_unstemmed Rifampicin and ofloxacin dual therapy as an adjunct to standard MB-MDT in the management of nodulo-ulcerative lepromatous leprosy with histoid-like features: a case report
title_short Rifampicin and ofloxacin dual therapy as an adjunct to standard MB-MDT in the management of nodulo-ulcerative lepromatous leprosy with histoid-like features: a case report
title_sort rifampicin and ofloxacin dual therapy as an adjunct to standard mb mdt in the management of nodulo ulcerative lepromatous leprosy with histoid like features a case report
topic leprosy
Hansen’s disease
lepromatous leprosy
novel treatment
treatment regime
histoid Hansen
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1596617/full
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