title: How much isoniazid is needed for prevention of tuberculosis among immunocompetent adults?
abstract: Recommendations regarding how long isoniazid should be taken to prevent tuberculosis have gradually shifted from 12 to 6 months of treatment. These recommendations and the relevant evidence from controlled trials on duration of treatment are reviewed. The conclusions for immunocompetent adults are: 1) 6 months of preventive treatment does not give optimal protection; 2) more than 12 months of preventive treatment is not necessary; 3) 9-10 months appears to be the optimal duration; and 4) total duration of preventive treatment may be more important than its continuity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Comstock
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D007538:Isoniazid