Co-infection leprosy and tuberculosis: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Medical Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Leprosy and tuberculosis are significant global health challenges, particularly in endemic regions.
• Understanding co-infection patterns is crucial for effective disease management and public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and describe factors associated with co-infection of leprosy and tuberculosis.
• To identify demographic, lifestyle, and clinical characteristics in co-infected individuals.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of studies published between 2015 and 2020 from PubMed and BVS databases.
• Inclusion criteria focused on co-infection cases, excluding studies on individual diseases.
• Analysis of 13 case reports meeting eligibility criteria.

Main Results:

• The study included 13 case reports, with a majority of male participants (72.2%).
• Lifestyle factors like chronic smoking, alcoholism, and illicit drug use were reported in some cases.
• A significant proportion had a history of tuberculosis/leprosy or received Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination.
• Pulmonary tuberculosis was common, and some patients exhibited drug-resistant tuberculosis; all had multibacillary leprosy.

Conclusions:

• Co-infection with leprosy and tuberculosis presents in diverse ways, with male predominance and potential links to lifestyle factors.
• While specific risk factors were noted, the co-infection did not appear to alter the clinical course of either disease in the reviewed cases.