New world cutaneous leishmaniasis: obstacles in initiating treatment with sodium stibogluconate in 2 travelers from Texas.

New World cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is considered in the differential diagnosis for patients with nonhealing ulcers and a history of travel to high-risk areas. For patients at risk for progression to mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, first-line treatment in the United States entails the use of sodium stibogluconate (SSG), which is obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under an investigational drug protocol. We report 2 cases of New World CL in travelers to endemic areas who were diagnosed and treated with SSG. These cases demonstrate the logistics of coordinating with the CDC to definitively diagnose New World CL and initiate the necessary treatment.