Use of MDT by TB cases FAQ
Will the widespread use of rifampicin for treating tuberculosis (TB) and sexually transmitted diseases (STD) have any effect on the use of MDT in leprosy patients?
It is possible that if a leprosy patient with tuberculosis is treated for tuberculosis with a rifampicin-containing anti-tubercular regimen, he/she may run the risk of developing rifampicin- resistant leprosy. Hence, the need to treat both diseases simultaneously. Use of rifampicin for STD for very short periods may have no significant effect on the emergence of rifampicin-resistant M. leprae.