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How does dapsone interfere with the growth of Mycobacterium leprae?
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leprosy
The Gandhiji Prem Nivas is a center for people with leprosy that was established by Mother Teresa in 1958 and is run by the Missionaries of Charity in Titagarh, India.
Dapsone is a bacteriostatic drug that interferes with the growth of Mycobacterium leprae by preventing the bacterium from synthesizing folic acid, an essential vitamin required for its survival and reproduction.1
As a member of the sulfone class of drugs, dapsone was the first truly effective medication for leprosy, replacing older, less reliable treatments like chaulmoogra oil. Today, it is typically administered as part of a multidrug therapy regimen alongside other medications, such as rifampicin, to prevent the development of drug-resistant bacterial strains.12