Bacteremia in leprosy

Abstract

Background Leprosy can infect many tissues besides peripheral nerves and skin. Mycobacterium leprae can occasionally invade blood stream. Objectives The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of bacteremia in leprosy patients. Patients and methods Buffy coat smears and smears from peripheral blood samples and slit-skin smears of 20 patients with Hansen’s disease (6 with lepromatous, 8 with borderline lepromatous, and 3 each with borderline tuberculoid and pure neuritic leprosy) were stained with Ziehl-Neelsen method for acid-fast bacilli. Results Out of 20 patients, slit-skin smears were positive in 10 patients (5 each with lepromatous and borderline lepromatous leprosy) while buffy coat smears and blood smears were positive in 2 and 1 patients of lepromatous leprosy, respectively.  Conclusion Bacteremia rarely occurs in leprosy.