Tracing leprosy through laboratory lens: Spatial insights from a tertiary care Hospital, Hyderabad

Leprosy continues to be reported in India despite ongoing control efforts. We conducted a two-year retrospective study (May 2023-2025) at a tertiary-care microbiology laboratory in Hyderabad, India, to describe laboratory-confirmed cases of leprosy. Samples from clinically suspected cases were examined using Modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining, and only smear-positive cases were included. Demographic details, treatment follow-up status, and district of residence were reviewed, and spatial distribution was visualized using spot mapping of 93 samples processed, 24 were smear-positive. The distribution of cases reflected the hospital's service area. Routine laboratory data can support local leprosy surveillance.