Increasing tx completion of LTBI in high-risk international university students

Medication compliance and regimen completion are common issues for latent tuberculosis (TB) treatment in patients. Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), requires 9 months of Isoniazid (INH) and the one most commonly used by local TB clinics for LTBI treatment. New CDC approved treatment regimens are of significantly shorter duration, making treatment initiation more successful and treatment completion more possible. A better solution was needed, and with the 2011 CDC approval of a 12-week INH/rifapentine regimen another treatment option for this group of patients existed that could increase treatment compliance and completion rates.

Conversations were held between the state and local health departments and university staff, a catalyst for discussions about implementation of the new 12- week regimen for university students. Meetings in 2012 with the state department of health, TB program, local health department nursing staff and the university health center began It was decided that the new university students would have two voluntary options: the new CDC approved 12 week regimen and the traditional 9 month regimen resulting in better completion rates. . The new treatment regimen had a slightly more successful completion rate but a higher initiation rate meaning more high-risk students completed treatment. Satisfaction with the new regimen was positive for most students. All students in 2012 chose the new CDC approved 12- week regimen despite the requirement for weekly appointments for directly observed therapy. Completion of LTBI treatment is an important goal for this high-risk population ensuring a reduction in TB disease in these individuals.