Treatment of latent tuberculosis among homeless population. Comparison between wo therapeutic approaches

• Published in: Medicina clínica Vol. 122; no. 2; p. 57
• Main Authors: Sánchez-Arcilla, Ignacio, Vílchez, José María, García de la Torre, Manuel, Fernández, Xiomara, Noguerado, Arturo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 24.01.2004
• Subjects: Adult; Antitubercular Agents - administration & dosage; Antitubercular Agents - therapeutic use; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Homeless Persons; Humans; Isoniazid - administration & dosage; Isoniazid - therapeutic use; Male; Patient Compliance; Prospective Studies; Pyrazinamide - administration & dosage; Pyrazinamide - therapeutic use; Rifampin - administration & dosage; Rifampin - therapeutic use; Tuberculosis - drug therapy
• ISSN: 0025-7753
• DOI: 10.1016/S0025-7753(04)74140-8

We aimed to compare treatment adherence and toxicity of isoniazide (H) (6 months) compared with rifampicine (R) + pirazinamide (Z) (2 months) in homeless patients in latent tuberculous infection (LTBI). Randomized and controlled prospective study. We included 172 patients (116 males and 56 females) with an age average of 42.3 (12.8) years; 31 (18%) had recent conversion and 72 (41.8%) had some risk factor of hepatotoxicity. Both bivariate and multivariate analysis (p < 0.001; OR = 5.15 [2.34-11.35]) showed that the treatment was completed by 61.5% of patients administered the R+Z regimen, while it was completed only by 28.2% of those administered H for 6 months. Moreover, treatment was completed by 48.4% of Spanish or foreign patients with legal residence, while it was completed only by 28.6% of immigrant patients with no legal residence (p = 0.044 in bivariate analysis). The R+Z regimen for 2 months as treatment of LTBI in homeless patients displays a higher adherence than H for 6 months. There were no differences in toxicity.