title: High rate of completion of preventive therapy for latent tuberculosis infection among asylum seekers in a Swiss Canton.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Preventive treatment may avoid future cases of tuberculosis among asylum seekers. The effectiveness of preventive treatment depends in large part on treatment completion.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective cohort study, asylum seekers of two of the Swiss Canton Vaud migration centres were screened with the Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA). Those with a positive IGRA were referred for medical examination. Individuals with active or past tuberculosis were excluded. Preventive treatment was offered to all participants with positive IGRA but without active tuberculosis. The adherence was assessed during monthly follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From a population of 393 adult migrants, 98 (24.9%) had a positive IGRA. Eleven did not attend the initial medical assessment. Of the 87 examined, eight presented with pulmonary disease (five of them received a full course of antituberculous therapy), two had a history of prior tuberculosis treatment and two had contraindications to treatment. Preventive treatment was offered to 75 individuals (4 months rifampicin in 74 and 9 months isoniazid in one), of whom 60 (80%) completed the treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The vulnerability and the volatility of this population make screening and observance of treatment difficult. It seems possible to obtain a high rate of completion using a short course of treatment in a closely monitored population living in stable housing conditions.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Geneva, SWITZERLAND; apostolos.sarivalasis@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Apostolos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarivalasis
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bodenmann
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Langenskiold
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lutchmaya-Flick
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Daher
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Zellweger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D063368:Balkan Peninsula / Q000208:ethnology; D018890:Chemoprevention / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059425:Interferon-gamma Release Tests; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012036:Refugees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013557:Switzerland; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D007538:Isoniazid; D012293:Rifampin