Buruli ulcer is a cutaneous infection caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. O'Brien et al reported a number of factors that may increase the risk of antibiotic failure in treating the infection. The authors are from University Hospital Geelong, University of Melbourne, Geelong Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Deakin University in Australia.
Patient selection: Buruli ulcer
Outcome: failure of antibiotic therapy
Risk factors for treatment failure in patients receiving >= 56 days of therapy:
(1) body weight > 90 kilograms
(2) immunosuppression
(3) therapy with combination rifampin and clarithromycin (versus combination rifampin and fluoroquinolone)
(4) male sex
In addition, a short treatment period (< 28 days) was associated with treatment failure. One can hypothesize that poor compliance would also be a risk factor.
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