COMPLIANCE, TOLERANCE AND EFFICACY OF A SHORT-COURSE OF CHEMOPROPHYLAXIS FOR TUBERCULOSIS

OBJECTIVE: TO evaluate compliance, side effects and the efficacy of a short course of chemoprophylaxis for tuberculosis with isoniazid plus rifampin during 3 months, compared with the classic course of isoniazi d for 9 months. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective, comparative, random ized and open study of patients with the suitable criteria for chemopr ophylaxis, in accordance with the guidelines of the Centers for Diseas e Control of 1990. Patients were divided into 2 groups: the group of i soniazid plus rifampin, received isoniazid (300 mg per day) plus rifam pin (600 mg per day) for 3 months, and the group of isoniazid, that re ceived isoniazid at a dose of 300 mg per day for 9 months. RESULTS: 23 8 patients were included, of which 42 refused chemoprophylaxis. Of the remaining 196 patients, 98 were included in each group. Both groups w ere comparable at base level. The side effects, neither light nor seve re showed significant differences. The appearance of adverse effects o bliged the suspension of treatment in 7 patients in group isoniazid an d of 9 patients in group isoniazid plus rifampin. Three patients in gr oup isoniazid plus rifampin and 11 in group isoniazid stopped treatmen t (OR 4.14, 95% CI 1.02-19.45; p = 0.04). Efficacy was comparable in t he two groups; only one case of tuberculosis was detected in a patient who gave up chemoprophylaxis at day 30. CONCLUSIONS: Tolerance in gro up isoniazid plus rifampin compared with group I was similar. Complian ce was better in the short-term group with a lower percentage of aband onment. On comparing, both groups have shown similar efficacy in preve nting the appearance of tuberculosis.