Short-course rifamycin and pyrazinamide treatment for latent tuberculosis infection in patients with HIV infection: the 2-year experience of a comprehensive community-based program in Broward County, Florida.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the completion rate and tolerability of short-course rifamycin and pyrazinamide treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in HIV-infected patients through a comprehensive community-based program.
DESIGN: Prospective cohort, with comparison to a historical control group. PATIENTS: Of 3,118 patients with HIV infection screened for LTBI between February 1999 and March 2001, 135 patients were placed on rifamycin/pyrazinamide for 2 months under directly observed therapy and were compared to a historical group comprised of 93 HIV-infected patients who were placed on self-administered treatment of isoniazid for 12 months between 1996 and 1998.
RESULTS: Of 135 patients receiving rifamycin/pyrazinamide, 124 patients (92%) completed treatment; 5 patients had to discontinue treatment due to side effects (allergic skin reactions [n = 4], hepatitis [n = 1]). The completion rate of the historical group who received isoniazid therapy was 61% (57 of 93 patients; p < 0.001); none of those who received isoniazid experienced significant side effects.
CONCLUSION: In our experience, a comprehensive, community-based program of rifamycin/pyrazinamide for LTBI achieved significantly higher adherence than that of traditional isoniazid therapy, and thus may provide improved tuberculosis prevention in a community with high prevalence of HIV-infected patients.