Treatment completion rates and adverse effects of three months of once-weekly isoniazid plus rifapentine for latent tuberculosis infection

ABSTRACT

Objective:  Preventive treatment of active tuberculosis is one of the main strategies for reducing the incidence of tuberculosis. We sought to evaluate the rates of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) treatment completion with three months of once-weekly isoniazid plus rifapentine (3HP) and compare them with those for six to nine months of daily isoniazid (6H/9H).

Methods:  This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. Consecutive patients undergoing LTBI treatment with 3HP or 6H/9H were included in the study. Treatment completion rates and adverse effects were analyzed.

Results:  A total of 226 patients were included in the study: 113 in the 3HP group and 113 in the 6H/9H group. The frequency of adverse effects was not significantly different between the 3HP and 6H/9H groups. The 3HP group had a higher treatment completion rate (93.8%) than did the 6H/9H group (84.1%), the difference being significant.

Conclusions:  The rates of LTBI treatment completion appear to be higher with 3HP than with 6H/9H. Health care professionals should be vigilant in managing adverse effects to further maximize LTBI treatment completion.

Keywords:
Tuberculosis, pulmonary; Latent tuberculosis/prevention & control; Mycobacterium tuberculosis