Treatment completion in latent tuberculosis infection at specialist tuberculosis units in Spain.
METHODS
Treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is essential for tuberculosis (TB) control in low-prevalence countries. However, the long treatment duration and adverse events frequently result in suboptimal treatment completion.


OBJECTIVE
To determine completion rates of LTBI treatment and to identify risk factors for non-completion of treatment.


METHODS
Retrospective, observational cohort study.


METHODS
All non-human immunodeficiency virus infected adults who started treatment for LTBI at two specialist TB units in Spain between January 2004 and March 2007 were included. Those who discontinued treatment due to toxicity were excluded.


RESULTS
Of 599 people who started on treatment, 484 (80.8%, 95%CI 77.5-83.8) completed it. Age <36 years (OR 0.33, 95%CI 0.30-0.76, P = 0.001), male sex (OR 0.58, 95%CI 0.37-0.92, P = 0.02), immigrant status <5 years of residence (OR 0.21, 95%CI 0.12-0.37, P < 0.001) and the presence of social risk factors (OR 0.21, 95%CI 0.11-0.39, P < 0.001) were associated with lower rates of treatment completion. Short treatment regimens were not associated with better treatment completion compared with isoniazid for 6-9 months (OR 0.89, 95%CI 0.45-1.80, P = 0.76).


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, completion rates of LTBI treatment in specialist TB units are good. Nevertheless, counselling should be strengthened and new strategies to enhance adherence should be sought for recent immigrants and for people in unfavourable social situations.
Anibarro
L
L
Tuberculosis Unit, Service of Internal Medicine, Complexo Hospitalario de Pontevedra, Pontevedra, Spain.
Casas
S
S
Paz-Esquete
J
J
Gonzalez
L
L
Pena
A
A
Guerra
M R
MR
Sande
D
D
Calviño
L
L
Santin
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006763:Hospitals, Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000995:Antitubercular Agents