MDT and drug resistance
Is the threat of rifampicin-resistant leprosy a serious problem?
There are a few isolated reports of rifampicin-resistant leprosy; these are mainly from areas where rifampicin was given as monotherapy, either alone or in combination with dapsone, to dapsone-resistant patients. At the moment, the problem of rifampicin-resistant leprosy is not a serious one; however, selective non-compliance with dapsone and/or clofazimine by patients may facilitate the selection of rifampicin-resistant strains.