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How much isoniazid is needed for prevention of tuberculosis among immunocompetent adults?
1Department of Epidemiology, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Abstract:
Recommendations regarding how long isoniazid should be taken to prevent tuberculosis have gradually shifted from 12 to 6 months of treatment. These recommendations and the relevant evidence from controlled trials on duration of treatment are reviewed. The conclusions for immunocompetent adults are: 1) 6 months of preventive treatment does not give optimal protection; 2) more than 12 months of preventive treatment is not necessary; 3) 9-10 months appears to be the optimal duration; and 4) total duration of preventive treatment may be more important than its continuity.