Q J Med 1999; 92: 659-667
© 1999 Association of Physicians
Out-patient parenteral antimicrobial therapya viable option for the management of cutaneous leishmaniasis
From the Infection and Immunodeficiency Unit, and 1 Department of Dermatology, Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust, and 2 Department of Clinical Parasitology, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London, UK
Received 7 June 1999 and in revised form 25 August 1999
Dr R.A. Seaton, Directorate of Medicine, Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1 9SY. e-mail: aseaton66{at}aol.com
Cutaneous infection with Leishmania braziliensis complex requires treatment with parenteral pentavalent antimonials to prevent development of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. Patients with imported disease are usually managed in hospital because of concerns over drug toxicity. This study describes the clinical features and outcome of infection treated in the UK in an out-patient setting. Thirteen marines (aged 1935 years) who acquired leishmaniasis in Belize were studied prospectively. Three had at least two lesions (0.63 cm diameter), eight had regional lymphadenopathy and one had localized painless lymphatic thickening. Histology for amastigotes and PCR for Leishmania braziliensis complex was positive in all. Culture was positive in six. Patients received 1.52 g (mean 1.7 g) (20 mg/kg) sodium stibogluconate intravenously daily for 20 days. All developed transient musculoskeletal symptoms and asymptomatic hepatitis. Eleven developed biochemical pancreatitis, and one thrombocytopenia. Three developed transient ECG changes and one herpes zoster. There were four device-related infections, two requiring hospitalization (one required surgical drainage of an abscess). All lesions re-epithelialized. A total of 250 bed-days were saved over a 67-day period. These results indicate that in selected patients, out-patient therapy for cutaneous leishmaniasis with parenteral high-dose sodium stibogluconate may be appropriate, provided there is adequate monitoring of therapy.
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