Shorter Combo Therapy Effective for Latent TB
Major Finding: Compared with their counterparts given longer therapy with isoniazid, patients given shorter therapy with rifapentine plus isoniazid were less likely to develop culture-confirmed tuberculosis (0.19% vs. 0.43%).
Data Source: A randomized, open-label, noninferiority phase III trial among 8,053 individuals with latent tuberculosis infection who were at high risk for progression to tuberculosis disease.
Disclosures: Dr. Sterling reported that he had no relevant conflicts of interest. Sanofi-Aventis provided rifapentine for the trial.
FROM AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE AMERICAN THORACIC SOCIETY
"As someone who has been in the business of fighting TB for a long time, I can’t tell you how pleased I am to be able to offer a 3-month regimen: 12 doses and you are done," Dr. Castro said in a telebriefing May 16. Practitioners are always struggling to get patients to complete a 9-month regimen for TB, but with limited success, he said.
"This provides a fantastic opportunity to have the desired impact as a preventive therapy regimen [for TB]," Dr. Castro said.
Dr. Sterling reported that he had no relevant conflicts of interest. Sanofi-Aventis, manufacturer of rifapentine, provided the drug for the trial. Dr. Castro also had no relevant conflicts of interest.
