Description:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p><jats:bold>Background </jats:bold> Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), a parasitic disease which represents a public health problem, particularly in Central and South America, has become a leading condition in travelers who return from tropical countries with skin disorders. Cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by <jats:italic>Leishmania</jats:italic> (<jats:italic>Viannia</jats:italic>) <jats:italic>braziliensis</jats:italic>, the most common causative agent, requires systemic treatment because it is potentially able to disseminate and to cause mucosal or mucocutaneous disease. Although several drugs are available for the systemic treatment of leishmaniases, a definitive treatment regimen for infection caused by species of the <jats:italic>Viannia</jats:italic> subgenus has yet to be established in many countries, including Germany.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Methods </jats:bold> We analyzed treatment outcomes in 23 returnees from Central and South America who were diagnosed with <jats:italic>L. </jats:italic>(<jats:italic>V.</jats:italic>)<jats:italic> braziliensis</jats:italic> CL by polymerase chain reaction.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Results </jats:bold> Complete cure within one month following treatment was observed in 18 patients (78%). Cure was achieved with liposomal amphotericin B in 11 of 13 patients, miltefosine in five of eight patients, and meglumine antimoniate in two (of two) patients. Of the five patients (22%) who failed to respond to initial therapy, four were cured with meglumine antimoniate and one with liposomal amphotericin B.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Conclusions </jats:bold> In this outcome evaluation of treatment of imported <jats:italic>L. </jats:italic>(<jats:italic>V.</jats:italic>)<jats:italic> braziliensis</jats:italic> infections, liposomal amphotericin B, miltefosine, and meglumine antimoniate proved to be effective. Conventional meglumine antimoniate showed high efficacy as a first‐line treatment and cured lesions that failed to respond to the other two drugs. A multi‐country study using standardized treatment protocols is needed to establish a definitive regimen.</jats:p>