02230nas a2200229   4500000000100000008004100001260003700042653002500079653002300104653002300127653002300150653001900173653002600192653001200218100001900230700001300249700002000262700001300282245008400295520160700379022001401986       2026                            d  c04/2026bEgyptian Knowledge Bank10aHealthcare Personnel10aHealthcare workers10aHospitals, Special10aleprosy infection.10aHansen disease10aOccupational Exposure10aleprosy1 aAbdel Hafiz IM1 aHashem O1 aabd al-samee HS1 aElgmal E00aLeprosy Infection Among Healthcare Personnel in Specialized Hospitals: A Review3 a<p>Leprosy, or Hansen’s disease, remains a chronic infectious condition of major public health importance, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where endemic transmission continues despite significant global control efforts. The disease, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, primarily affects the skin and peripheral nerves, leading to disfigurement, disability, and social stigma if untreated. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) declared leprosy “eliminated as a public health problem” at the global level in 2000 defined as a prevalence of less than 1 case per 10,000 population pockets of endemicity persist in regions such as South and Southeast Asia, Africa, and parts of Latin America. These areas account for more than 90% of the world’s reported cases, highlighting persistent transmission and diagnostic challenges.<br />
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Within these endemic settings, healthcare workers (HCWs) represent a unique subgroup that may be at heightened risk of exposure to M. leprae. Continuous and close contact with undiagnosed or untreated patients, handling of skin biopsies or exudates, and frequent interaction with infected individuals in leprosy hospitals increase their likelihood of encountering the pathogen. The long incubation period of leprosy, often ranging from two to ten years, complicates the early identification of occupationally acquired infections. Furthermore, subclinical infections detectable only through molecular tools such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) may go unnoticed, contributing to silent transmission within healthcare environments.</p>
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