title: Adherence with isoniazid for prevention of tuberculosis among HIV-infected adults in South Africa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tuberculosis (TB) is the most common opportunistic infection in HIV-infected adults in developing countries. Isoniazid (INH) is recommended for treatment of latent TB infection, however non-adherence is common. The purpose of this study was to apply in-house prepared isoniazid (INH) urine test strips in a clinical setting, and identify predictors of positive test results in an adherence questionnaire in HIV-infected adults taking INH for prevention of TB.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study of adherence using a questionnaire and urine test strips for detection of INH metabolites at two hospitals in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Participants were aged at least 18 years, HIV positive, and receiving INH for prevention of tuberculosis disease. Univariate and multivariate analyses are used to identify factors relevant to adherence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  301 consecutive patients were recruited. 28% of participants had negative urine tests. 32 (37.2%, 95% CI25.4, 45.0) of the 86 patients who received INH from peripheral pharmacies said the pharmacy had run out of INH at some time, compared with central hospital pharmacies (p = 0.0001). In univariate analysis, a negative test was associated with self-reported missed INH doses (p = 0.043). Each 12-hour increment since last reported dose increased the likelihood of a negative test by 34% (p = 0.0007). Belief in INH safety was associated with a positive test (p = 0.021). In multivariate analysis, patients who believed INH is important for prevention of TB disease were more likely to be negative (p = 0.0086).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adequate drug availability at peripheral pharmacies remains an important intervention for TB prevention. Key questions may identify potentially non-adherent patients. In-house prepared urine tests strips are an effective and cheap method of objectively assessing INH adherence, and could be used an important tool in TB control programs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Ottawa at The Ottawa Hospital, 501 Smyth Rd., K1H 8L6, Ottawa, Canada. szakact@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Tom A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Szakacs
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: D William
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kocheleff
authors.forename: F James
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: Anne E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: McCarthy
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000652:urine; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000652:urine; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D007538:Isoniazid