ANALYSIS OF THE DECISION TO ENACT CHEMOPR OPHYLAXIS WITH ISONIAZIDE IN HIV-INFECTED INTRAVENOUS DRUG USING PATIENTS

Objectives: Analyze the decision to enact or to refrain from chemoprop hylaxis (CP) with isoniazide (INH) in patients who are intravenous dru g users (IVDU) in Spain infected by the human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV), either classified or not with hypersensitive skin tests. Methods : With the bibliographic information available and the help of decisio n tree, an analysis of the effectiveness and of the consequences of dr ug costs of CP with INH in those patients is performed. Results: Overa ll, the HIV+ IVDU benefit from CP is an increase in survival of 80 day s, with a savings of 7,252 pesetas per patient. The intradermal reacti on with PPD and the retarded hypersensitivity tests (HCR) allow us to classify them in three subgroups: a) PPD+ where CP is universally admi tted and thus corroborates our study; b) PPD-/HCR- where CP increases survival 201 days and saves 20,616 pesetas per patient; and c) PPD-/HC R+ where survival is increased 33 days and the pharmacological costs i ncrease 1,536 pesetas per patient under CP. Conclusions: For the prese nt situation in Spain, CP with INH is effective in HIV+ IVDU patients, independent of the results of the intradermal reation skin tests.