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Open Access Implementing the 4R and 9H regimens for TB preventive treatment in Indonesia

BACKGROUND: The implementation of tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) is challenging especially in resource-limited settings. As part of a Phase 3 trial on TPT, we described our experience with the use of rifampicin for 4 months (4R) and isoniazid for 9 months (9H) in Indonesia.

METHODS: In 2011–2017, children and adults with latent TB infection were randomised to either 4R or 9H and followed until 16 months after randomisation for children and 28 months for adults. The primary outcome was the treatment completion rate. Secondary outcomes were Grade 3–5 adverse events (AEs), active TB occurrence, and health costs.

RESULTS: A total of 157 children and 860 adults were enrolled. The 4R treatment completion rate was significantly higher than that of 9H (78.7% vs. 65.5%), for a rate difference of 13.2% (95% CI 7.1–19.2). No Grade 3–5 AEs were reported in children; in adults, it was lower in 4R (0.4%) compared to 9H (2.8%). The incidence of active TB was lower with 4R than with 9H (0.09/100 person-year vs. 0.36/100 person-year) (rate difference: –0.36/100 person-year). The total cost per patient was lower for the 4R regimen than for the 9H regimen (USD151.9 vs. USD179.4 in adults and USD152.9 vs. USD206.5 in children)

CONCLUSIONS: Completion and efficacy rates for 4R were better than for 9H. Compared to 9H, 4R was cheaper in all age groups, safer in adults and equally safe in children. The Indonesian TB program could benefit from these benefits of the 4R regimen.

Keywords: TB preventive treatment; isoniazid; rifampicin

Document Type: Research Article

Affiliations: 1: TB Working Group, Infectious Disease Research Center, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, Indonesia, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, Indonesia 2: TB Working Group, Infectious Disease Research Center, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, Indonesia 3: Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada 4: Department of Child Health, Universitas Padjadjaran/Dr Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia 5: TB Working Group, Infectious Disease Research Center, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, Indonesia, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran/Dr Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia 6: Centre for International Health, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Otago, New Zealand 7: Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada, Departments of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, and Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada 8: TB Working Group, Infectious Disease Research Center, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, Indonesia, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, Indonesia

Publication date: 01 February 2022

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