Timing of Surgical Intervention in Buruli Ulcer Patients Treated With Antibiotics

Exclusion Criteria

• •Patients not on the standard treatment of eight weeks of rifampicin and streptomycin for any reason, will be excluded from this study.
• •Treatment with macrolide or quinolone antibiotics, or antituberculous medication, or immune-modulatory drugs including corticosteroids within the previous one month.
• •Patients not compliant with the antibiotic therapy will be excluded as well. Non-compliance is defined as the use of \< 70 % of the prescribed antibiotics.
• •Patients with a contraindication for general anaesthesia are not able to participate.
• •Pregnancy.
• •Osteomyelitis.
• •Lesion close to the eye, with preferred standard treatment to wait for effect antibiotic treatment on extent surgery.
• •The BUFLS (Buruli ulcer functional limitation score) cannot be applied to children below three years and therefore will not participate.
• •Patients reporting to refuse surgery at any point in the intended treatment, cannot be included.
• •Any situation or condition which may compromise ability to comply with the trial procedures.
• •Patients known to be HIV positive.
• •Lack of willingness to give informed consent (and/or assent by parent/legal representative).