IN-VIVO SUSCEPTIBILITY OF MYCOBACTERIUM-LEPRAE TO OFLOXACIN EITHER SINGLY OR IN COMBINATION WITH RIFAMPICIN AND RIFABUTIN - ANTILEPROSY ACTIVITY OF OFLOXACIN AND ANSAMYCINS IN MICE

The antimicrobial effects of ofloxacin against Mycobacterium leprae, e ither alone or in combination with rifampicin and rifabutin, were stud ied using mouse foot and pad assay technique. When used singly, the mi nimum concentrations of the drugs needed to completely inhibit the gro wth of Mycobacterium leprae in foot pads of mice were 50 mg/kg body we ight for ofloxacin and 0.003% and 0.0001%, respectively, for rifampici n and rifabutin. However, excellent synergistic effects were observed when mice were fed with 25 mg/kg body weight of ofloxacine along with 0.00003% rifabutin, but not rifampicin. Thus, incorporation of ofloxac in and rifabutin in the multiple drug therapy of leprosy patients is s uggested.