rifampicin + dapsone

Rifampicin + dapsone is a fixed-dose combination of two antibiotics used primarily in the treatment of leprosy (Hansen’s disease). Rifampicin is a rifamycin-class antibiotic that inhibits bacterial DNA-dependent RNA polymerase, thereby suppressing RNA synthesis and leading to bacterial cell death. Dapsone is a sulfone-class antibiotic that inhibits dihydropteroate synthase, blocking folic acid synthesis in bacteria and thus inhibiting nucleic acid production. This combination is often part of multidrug therapy (MDT) regimens to prevent resistance and improve efficacy against Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agent of leprosy. The regimen may also be considered for other mycobacterial infections or as part of investigational protocols for chronic Lyme disease[1][4][5][6].