Isoniazid completion rates for latent tuberculosis infection among college students managed by a community pharmacist.
OBJECTIVE
The authors' objective was to document 9-month and previously recommended 6-month treatment completion rates for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in a pharmacist-managed LTBI clinic in a community pharmacy on a college campus, and to describe patient characteristics.


METHODS
Participants were university students diagnosed with LTBI.


METHODS
The authors conducted a retrospective review of pharmacy records from 2000 to 2006. Main outcome measures included 6-month and 9-month LTBI treatment completion rates, total isoniazid (INH) tablets taken, characteristics of completers versus noncompleters, average time to treatment completion, and reported adverse drug events.


RESULTS
The 9-month completion rate was 59%, and the 6-month completion rate was 67%. Among those not completing treatment, 15.2% experienced fatigue and 2.2% experienced a rash (p=.04 and p=.03, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
LTBI clinics are a unique niche for community pharmacies and can provide individualized patient care to ensure LTBI treatment adherence, monitoring for disease progression, and safety of INH.
Hess
Karl
K
College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA. khess@westernu.edu
Goad
Jeffery
J
Wu
Joanne
J
Johnson
Kathleen
K
D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D007538:Isoniazid