Changes in the Morphological Index of Mycobacterium leprae After 6 Months of Multidrug Therapy in Leprosy Patients

  • Triana Wulandari Poltekkes Kemenkes Jakarta III
  • Kristanti Harietrenggi Poltekkes Kemenkes Jakarta III
  • Husjain Djajaningrat Poltekkes Kemenkes Jakarta III
Keywords: Leprosy, Mycobacterium leprae, , Morphological index, MDT, Slit skin smear

Abstract

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae and remains a public health problem in Indonesia. The morphological index (MI), assessed by slit skin smear, describes the proportion of viable-appearing bacilli and is useful for evaluating bacteriological changes during therapy. This study aimed to determine differences in MI between the initial examination and after 6 months of multidrug therapy (MDT) in leprosy patients at Dr. Sitanala General Hospital. This comparative analytical observational study used a retrospective approach and secondary medical record data from patients examined during January–December 2024. A total of 56 multibacillary leprosy patients were selected using total sampling. Normality was assessed using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, followed by the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test for paired non-normally distributed data. Most patients were adults (>14 years), 52 (92.9%), and male, 39 (69.6%). The mean MI at the initial examination was 0.53%, ranging from 0% to 8%, and decreased to 0% after 6 months of MDT. Forty-seven patients had an initial MI of 0%, while 9 had MI >0%; all 9 decreased to 0%. The Wilcoxon test showed a significant difference (p=0.008). The findings indicate a change in MI after 6 months of MDT, although most patients already had an MI of 0% initially.

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Published
2026-12-01
How to Cite
Triana Wulandari, Kristanti Harietrenggi, & Husjain Djajaningrat. (2026). Changes in the Morphological Index of Mycobacterium leprae After 6 Months of Multidrug Therapy in Leprosy Patients. Jurnal Kesehatan Cendikia Jenius , 4(1), 15-19. https://doi.org/10.70920/jenius.v4i1.487