American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
Volume 162, Issue 5, 2000, Pages 1653-1655

Supervised preventive therapy for latent tuberculosis infection in illegal immigrants in Italy (Article)

Matteelli A.* , Casalini C. , Raviglione M.C. , El-Hamad I. , Scolari C. , Bombana E. , Bugiani M. , Caputo M. , Scarcella C. , Carosi G.
  • a Clin. of Infect. and Tropical Dis., P.zza Spedali Civili, 1, 25125 Brescia, Italy
  • b Clin. of Infect. and Tropical Dis., P.zza Spedali Civili, 1, 25125 Brescia, Italy
  • c Clin. of Infect. and Tropical Dis., P.zza Spedali Civili, 1, 25125 Brescia, Italy
  • d Clin. of Infect. and Tropical Dis., P.zza Spedali Civili, 1, 25125 Brescia, Italy
  • e Clin. of Infect. and Tropical Dis., P.zza Spedali Civili, 1, 25125 Brescia, Italy
  • f Clin. of Infect. and Tropical Dis., P.zza Spedali Civili, 1, 25125 Brescia, Italy
  • g Clin. of Infect. and Tropical Dis., P.zza Spedali Civili, 1, 25125 Brescia, Italy
  • h Clin. of Infect. and Tropical Dis., P.zza Spedali Civili, 1, 25125 Brescia, Italy
  • i Clin. of Infect. and Tropical Dis., P.zza Spedali Civili, 1, 25125 Brescia, Italy
  • j Clin. of Infect. and Tropical Dis., P.zza Spedali Civili, 1, 25125 Brescia, Italy

Abstract

In a multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label study of isoniazid-preventive therapy (IPT) for latent tuberculosis infection, illegal immigrants from countries where tuberculosis is highly endemic were enrolled at two clinical sites in Northern Italy. Of 208 eligible subjects, 82 received supervised IPT at a close of 900 mg twice weekly for 6 mo (Regimen A), 73 received unsupervised IPT 900 mg twice weekly for 6 mo (Regimen B), and 53 received unsupervised IPT 300 mg daily for 6 mo (Regimen C). Supervised IPT was delivered at either one tuberculosis clinic or one migrant clinic. The probability of completing a 26-wk regimen was 7, 26, and 41% in Regimens A, B, and C, respectively (p ≤ 0.005, Log-rank test calculated using Kaplan-Meier plots). The mean time to dropout was 3.8, 6, and 6.2 wk in Regimens A, B, and C, respectively (p = 0.003 for regimen A versus either Regimens B or C). Treatment was stopped in five subjects (2.4%) because of adverse events. The rate of completion of preventive therapy for latent tuberculosis infection among illegal immigrants was low. Supervised, clinic-based admin stration of IPT significantly reduced adherence. Alternative strategies to implement preventive therapy in illegal immigrants are clearly required.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

prospective study immigrant controlled clinical trial multicenter study clinical trial human controlled study priority journal randomized controlled trial Adolescent male female tuberculosis Article patient compliance infection prevention major clinical study adult isoniazid drug safety drug tolerability tuberculosis control Italy drug induced disease
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0033694878&doi=10.1164%2fajrccm.162.5.9912062&partnerID=40&md5=97865e15e3db4ce36f00074e91d2c86d
DOI: 10.1164/ajrccm.162.5.9912062
ISSN: 1073449X
Cited by: 45
Original Language: English