Background: Many studies have been performed during the past decade to find an effective topical therapy for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL).
Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate the effect of paromomycin ointment (P-ointment) containing 15% paromomycin sulfate and 12% methylbenzethonium chloride on Belizean patients with New World CL.
Methods: Fifty-three patients were treated twice daily for 14 to 21 days with P-ointment.
Results: Sixty-eight percent of the patients healed, 6% had a delayed cure, and 26% did not respond. No toxic effects from the ointment were observed.
Conclusion: Topical paromomycin is as efficacious in the treatment of New World CL as other currently accepted modalities that are potentially more toxic.