TY - JOUR
KW - Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
KW - Parasitology
KW - Infectious Diseases
KW - General Medicine
AU - De Barros B
AU - Lambert S
AU - Negera E
AU - Robert de Arquer G
AU - Sales A
AU - Darlong J
AU - Dias V
AU - Rozario B
AU - Pai VV
AU - Alinda M
AU - Listiawan MY
AU - Hagge D
AU - Shah M
AU - Lockwood DNJ
AU - Walker SL
AB - <jats:title>Abstract</jats:title>
               <jats:sec>
                  <jats:title>Background</jats:title>
                  <jats:p>The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to governments implementing a variety of public health measures to control transmission and has affected health services. Leprosy is a communicable neglected tropical disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae and is an important health problem in low- and middle-income countries. The natural history of leprosy means that affected individuals need long-term follow-up. The measures recommended to reduce transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can create barriers to health services. We evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic response on leprosy services and disease management.</jats:p>
               </jats:sec>
               <jats:sec>
                  <jats:title>Methods</jats:title>
                  <jats:p>We conducted a cross-sectional online survey with healthcare professionals in leprosy referral centres.</jats:p>
               </jats:sec>
               <jats:sec>
                  <jats:title>Results</jats:title>
                  <jats:p>Eighty percent of leprosy diagnostic services were reduced. All respondents reported that multidrug therapy (MDT) was available but two reported a reduced stock. Clinicians used alternative strategies such as telephone consultations to maintain contact with patients. However, patients were not able to travel to the referral centres.</jats:p>
               </jats:sec>
               <jats:sec>
                  <jats:title>Discussion</jats:title>
                  <jats:p>This study highlights the effects of the initial phase of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on leprosy services in a range of leprosy-endemic countries. Many services remained open, providing leprosy diagnosis, MDT and leprosy reaction medications. Centres developed innovative measures to counter the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.</jats:p>
               </jats:sec>
BT - Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
DO - 10.1093/trstmh/trab084
LA - eng
N2 - <jats:title>Abstract</jats:title>
               <jats:sec>
                  <jats:title>Background</jats:title>
                  <jats:p>The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to governments implementing a variety of public health measures to control transmission and has affected health services. Leprosy is a communicable neglected tropical disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae and is an important health problem in low- and middle-income countries. The natural history of leprosy means that affected individuals need long-term follow-up. The measures recommended to reduce transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can create barriers to health services. We evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic response on leprosy services and disease management.</jats:p>
               </jats:sec>
               <jats:sec>
                  <jats:title>Methods</jats:title>
                  <jats:p>We conducted a cross-sectional online survey with healthcare professionals in leprosy referral centres.</jats:p>
               </jats:sec>
               <jats:sec>
                  <jats:title>Results</jats:title>
                  <jats:p>Eighty percent of leprosy diagnostic services were reduced. All respondents reported that multidrug therapy (MDT) was available but two reported a reduced stock. Clinicians used alternative strategies such as telephone consultations to maintain contact with patients. However, patients were not able to travel to the referral centres.</jats:p>
               </jats:sec>
               <jats:sec>
                  <jats:title>Discussion</jats:title>
                  <jats:p>This study highlights the effects of the initial phase of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on leprosy services in a range of leprosy-endemic countries. Many services remained open, providing leprosy diagnosis, MDT and leprosy reaction medications. Centres developed innovative measures to counter the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.</jats:p>
               </jats:sec>
PB - Oxford University Press (OUP)
PY - 2021
T2 - Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
TI - An assessment of the reported impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on leprosy services using an online survey of practitioners in leprosy referral centres
UR - https://academic.oup.com/trstmh/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/trstmh/trab084/38461997/trab084.pdf
SN - 0035-9203, 1878-3503
ER -