Buruli ulcer recurrence, Benin.
Buruli ulcer is a recognized public health problem in West Africa. In Benin, from 1989 to 2001, the Centre Sanitaire et Nutritionnel Gbemoten (CSNG) treated >2,500 Buruli ulcer patients. From March 2000 to February 2001, field trips were conducted in the Zou and Atlantique regions. The choice of the 2 regions was based on the distance from CSNG and on villages with the highest number of patients treated at CSNG. A total of 66 (44.0%) of 150 former patients treated at CSNG were located in the visited villages. The recurrence rate of CSNG-treated patients after a follow-up period of up to 7 years was low (6.1%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.0-15.6). We attribute this low rate to the high quality of Buruli ulcer treatment at an accessible regional center (CSNG). The World Health Organization definition of a Buruli ulcer recurrent case should be revised to include a follow-up period >1 year.
Debacker
Martine
M
Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
Aguiar
Julia
J
Steunou
Christian
C
Zinsou
Claude
C
Meyers
Wayne M
WM
Portaels
Françoise
F
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001541:Benin / Q000453:epidemiology; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D019911:Mycobacterium ulcerans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012008:Recurrence; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013307:Streptomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D012293:Rifampin; D013307:Streptomycin