Effectiveness of single dose rifampicin in preventing leprosy in close contacts of patients with newly diagnosed leprosy: cluster randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of chemoprophylaxis using a single dose of rifampicin to prevent leprosy in close contacts. DESIGN: Single centre, double blind, cluster randomised, placebo controlled trial. SETTING: Leprosy control programme in two districts of northwest Bangladesh with a population of more than four million. PARTICIPANTS: 28,092 close contacts of 1037 patients with newly diagnosed leprosy. 21,711 contacts fulfilled the study requirements. INTERVENTIONS: A single dose of rifampicin or placebo given to close contacts in the second month of starting the index patient's treatment, with follow-up for four years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Development of clinical leprosy. RESULTS: 18,869 of the 21,711 contacts (86.9%) were followed-up at four years. Ninety one of 9452 contacts in the placebo group and…