title: Treatment of lepromatous ulcers using citric acid as a sole antimicrobial agent.
abstract: A prospective study was carried out to assess the role of citric acid as a sole antimicrobial agent in the management of lepromatous ulcers. Thirty-four known cases of lepromatous ulcers not responding to conventional antibiotic therapies for long duration were investigated for culture and susceptibility studies. Staphylococcus aureus (25·00%) and Klebsiella spp. (23·43%) were found to be the most common isolates. Amikacin (68·75%) and ciprofloxacin (67·18%) were found to be the most effective antimicrobial agents. Topical application of citric acid ointment resulted in complete healing in 25 (73·52%) cases. In eight cases (26·48%), there was elimination of infective agent from ulcer site and formation of healthy granulation, but no complete healing of ulcer was seen. Results indicate that citric acid is the best alternative for the effective management of lepromatous ulcers when other therapies are exhausted.
authors.affiliation: MIMSR Medical College and YCR Hospital, Latur, Maharashtra, India. dr_bsnagoba@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Basavraj S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Nagoba
authors.forename: Bharat J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Wadher
authors.forename: Arunkumar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Sohan P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Selkar
authors.forename: Rajan C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Gandhi
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016523:Foot Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D019343:Citric Acid