Self-Administered Treatment of Latent TB

Compliance with a TB self-treatment regimen in the U.S. was noninferior to directly observed therapy.

Reactivation of latent tuberculosis (TB) accounts for about 86% of active TB cases in the U.S. One anti-TB regimen that effectively prevents reactivation and is well tolerated consists of isoniazid (INH) and rifapentine, administered weekly under direct observation for 3 months.

In a randomized, open-label, intention-to-treat study involving 1002 patients from the U.S, Spain, Hong Kong, and South Africa, investigators compared regimen completion rates when therapy was directly observed (DOT), self-administered (SAT), or self-administered with weekly text messaging reminders. Adverse events were measured monthly.

Completion was 87.2% in the DOT group, 74.0% in the SAT group, and 76.4% in the SAT-plus-reminders group. By the authors' predetermi…

Reviewing Author

Stephen G. Baum, MD

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Consultant/Advisory BoardClinical Infectious Diseases

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Editorial BoardsMedical Letter

Stephen G. Baum, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardClinical Infectious Diseases

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsMedical Letter

Self-Administered Treatment of Latent TB

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Reviewing Author