"Nose-blow" smears in multibacillary leprosy patients

332 nose-blow specimens have been examined from 73 untreated multibacillary patients of leprosy before and periodically after they were put on a maximal, minimal or an intermediate multi-drug regimen. 80% of these specimens were found to be positive for acid fast bacilli initially. Bacillary positivity rate was more in samples containing pus or blood. Bacilli were seen in LL, LI as well as BL patients. Nearly half of the cases became negative for AFB in their nose-blow specimens within 3 months of initiation of treatment whereas none of these patients has become negative in skin smears. However, a few cases have continued to discharge bacilli in their nasal secretions even after 12 months of multi-drug regimen therapy.