PEP4LEP research and its contribution to capacity building

One of the important challenges in leprosy control is formed by the long incubation period of Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae), that can last up to twenty years, during which it is generally assumed that transmission of the bacterium already occurs.1 Those most at risk of becoming infected with M. leprae are close contacts of leprosy patients: household contacts, neighbours and social contacts. The traditional approach to this problem has been to try various methods of active case finding in order to identify patients early, start treatment and thus reduce the potential for further transmission. A more recent supplementary intervention proven to be effective in reducing the risk of developing leprosy in contacts of leprosy patients, is the administration of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with single-dose rifampicin (SDR).2 The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of SDR-PEP as chemoprophylaxis in their “Guidelines for the Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Leprosy”.3