title: Latent tuberculosis infection treatment for prison inmates: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: METHODS
  A prison in northern Taiwan.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare safety and the completion rate of the 4-month daily rifampicin regimen (4R) vs. the standard 6-month daily isoniazid regimen (6H) for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in prison inmates.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an open-label  randomised trial among human immunodeficiency virus negative male inmates. Inmates without active tuberculosis (TB) who tested positive for both the tuberculin skin test and QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube were eligible, but those with baseline glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) levels ≥  120 U/l, bilirubin levels ≥ 2.4 U/l or a platelet count < 150 k/mm(3) were excluded. The primary endpoint was any adverse event that resulted in discontinuation of LTBI treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants (n = 373; 14% hepatitis B surface antigen positive, 21% anti-hepatitis  C virus [HCV] positive) were randomised (stratified by hepatitis B virus, HCV status and 2-year prison term) to receive either 4R or 6H under directly observed treatment. The 4R group (n = 190) was less likely to experience an adverse event leading to discontinuation of treatment (2%  vs. 12%, P < 0.001 for all adverse events; 0% vs. 8%, P < 0.001 for hepatotoxicity), and more likely to complete LTBI treatment (86% vs. 78%, P = 0.041), compared with the 6H group (n = 183).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  4R is safer and has a higher completion rate than  6H as treatment for LTBI among male prison inmates.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: P-C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: C-H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: L-Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: K-F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: B-Y
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: C-Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: P-L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: P-R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Hsueh
authors.forename: C-T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: L-M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D059425:Interferon-gamma Release Tests; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D011329:Prisoners; D012293:Rifampin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013624:Taiwan; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D007538:Isoniazid; D012293:Rifampin