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Current management options for latent tuberculosis: a review

Authors Norton, Holland D

Received 29 August 2012

Accepted for publication 1 October 2012

Published 29 November 2012 Volume 2012:5 Pages 163—173

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/IDR.S29180

Checked for plagiarism Yes

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 4



Brianna L Norton, David P Holland

Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA

Abstract: Tuberculosis remains the world’s second leading infectious cause of death, with nearly one-third of the global population latently infected. Treatment of latent tuberculosis infection is a mainstay of tuberculosis-control efforts in low-to medium-incidence countries. Isoniazid monotherapy has been the standard of care for decades, but its utility is impaired by poor completion rates. However, new, shorter-course regimens using rifamycins improve completion rates and are cost-saving compared with standard isoniazid monotherapy. We review the currently available therapies for latent tuberculosis infection and their toxicities and include a brief economic comparison of the different regimens.

Keywords: isoniazid, rifampin, rifapentine, tuberculin skin test, interferon-gamma release assay

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