Six vs eight weeks of antibiotics for small mycobacterium ulcerans lesions in australian patients

Abstract

Background. Antibiotics are highly effective in curing Mycobacterium ulcerans lesions, but are associated with significant toxicity. In those not undergoing surgery, we compared 6 weeks with the currently recommended 8 weeks of combination antibiotic therapy for small M. ulcerans lesions. Methods. Mycobacterium ulcerans cases from an observational cohort at Barwon Health, Victoria, treated with antibiotics alone from 1 October 2010 to 31 March 2018 were included. The 6-week antibiotic group received 28 days and ≤ 42 days and the 8-week antibiotic group received 56 days of antibiotic therapy, respectively. Only World Health Organization category 1 lesions were included. Results. 207 patients ..