Chemoprophylaxis in preventing leprosy in contacts of patients with leprosy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Abstract

Leprosy is an infectious chronic disease that can cause damage especially to the skin and peripheral nerves as loss of sensation and muscle strength which can lead to secondary deformities as eye deficiency, hands and feet. The power transmission is by means of untreated patients. Leprosy still exists in developing countries like India, Indonesia and even in Brazil. In developed countries, leprosy has been eliminated, there is thus a risk to public health. A prevention strategies is to use the & Calmette Guérin bacillus (BCG) immunotherapy which is initially indicated by the WHO for the prevention of tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium leprae closely related to Mycobacterium. Their protective effect has been suggested in several studies, ranging from 20 to 90%. The vaccine offered greater protection against multibacillary, which featured an aid in the class responsible for transmitting the disease. The BCG was given to household contacts to be the highest risk for acquiring the disease. Thus, this project aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of chemoprophylaxis in preventing transmission of the disease in contacts of patients with leprosy. The research project will be conducted in the Department of Anesthesiology at the Postgraduate General Surgery Bases (FMB / Unesp) and the Medical Unit of the Evidence-Based FMB / UNESP. a systematic review of randomized clinical ensiaos will be held. The following databases will be searched: Pubmed, CENTRAL (the Cochrane Library), Embase and Lilacs. The analysis and data collection will be performed by two independent reviewers who will select prospective studies. (AU)