Abstract
Summary
The rate of bactericidal action of rifampin on Mycobacterium leprae in the mouse footpad was determined by the kinetic technique of Shepard and a serial dilution subinoculation technique. In kinetic experiments, rifampin (0.01%) in continuous dietary administration, produced a delay in bacillary growth, the extent of which was dependent on the period of drug administration. The estimated survival half-life of M. leprae was 0.5 day. This was confirmed by the subinoculation technique, by which a survival half-life of 0.6 day was obtained. Drug administration for 14 days rendered an inoculum of 104 M. leprae noninfective for mice.
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