Implementing 3HP vs. IPT as TB preventive treatment in Pakistan

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We assessed treatment uptake and completion for 6 months of isoniazid (6H) and 3 months of isoniazid plus rifapentine weekly (3HP) in a programmatic setting in Pakistan.METHODS: All household contacts were clinically evaluated to rule out TB disease. 6H was used for TB preventive treatment (TPT) from October 2016 to April 2017; from May to September 2017, 3HP was used for contacts aged ≥2 years. We compared clinical evaluation, TPT uptake and completion rates between contacts aged ≥2 years in the 6H period and in the 3HP period.RESULTS: We identified 3,442 contacts for the 6H regimen. After clinical evaluation, 744/1,036 (72%) started treatment, while 46% completed treatment. In contrast, 3,722 contacts were identified for 3HP. After clinical evaluation, 990/1,366 (72%) started treatment, while 67% completed treatment. Uptake of TPT did not differ significantly between the 6H and 3HP groups (OR 1.03, 95%CI 0.86–1.24). However, people who initiated 3HP had 2.3 times greater odds (95% CI 1.9–2.8) of completing treatment than those who initiated 6H after adjusting for age and sex.CONCLUSION: In programmatic settings in a high-burden country, household contacts of all ages were more likely to complete TPT with shorter weekly regimens, although treatment uptake rate for the two regimens was similar.