Acceptance of isoniazid preventive treatment by close contacts of tuberculosis cases: a 692-subject Italian study.
METHODS
Villa Marelli Institute, Lombardy Regional Reference Centre for Tuberculosis.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate acceptance of and adherence to isoniazid preventive treatment (IPT) of close contacts of contagious tuberculosis (TB) cases (CC); comparison of Italian and immigrant patients.


METHODS
A retrospective study of a consecutive series of 692 subjects (474 Italians and 218 immigrants from developing countries) exposed to contagious TB cases, who were offered IPT after tuberculin skin testing and chest X-ray, according to the Lombardy Regional Protocol for TB control.


RESULTS
Of 692 CCs, 36 (5.2%) subjects refused IPT, 522 (75.5%) completed the treatment as prescribed, 23 (3.3%) suspended IPT because of adverse effects, 14 (2.0%) spontaneously discontinued IPT against our advice, 93 (13.4%) were lost to follow up, and seven (0.6%) were still in treatment when the present data were evaluated. Italian CCs had a completion rate significantly higher than the immigrants (81.0% vs 63.3%, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The rate of acceptance and completion of IPT in our population proved higher than many previously reported data, and the better results among Italian subjects reflect the importance of a complete comprehension of IPT that may not always be achieved with immigrant patients.
Codecasa
L R
LR
Villa Marelli Institute, Lombardy Regional Reference Centre for Tuberculosis, Milan, Italy.
Besozzi
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007558:Italy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission
D007538:Isoniazid