Management of latent tuberculous infection in Norway in 2009: a descriptive cross-sectional study
OBJECTIVE: To obtain baseline information on initiation and completion of treatment for LTBI in Norway in 2009.
DESIGN: A descriptive cross-sectional study.
RESULTS: All 721 patients treated for LTBI in 2009 in Norway were included, of whom 607 (84%) completed treatment. The treatment regimen generally consisted of 3 months of rifampicin and isoniazid. The three main reasons for starting treatment were: 1) countries of origin with high tuberculosis (TB) prevalence, 2) a positive tuberculin skin test, and 3) a positive interferon gamma release assay. The use of directly observed treatment varied by health region and age. The majority of the 34 medical specialists interviewed saw a need for new national guidelines to improve the selection of high-risk patients with LTBI.
CONCLUSIONS: Management of LTBI is in accordance with current guidelines, with a high completion rate. More targeted selection of which patients should be offered preventive treatment is required, and new guidelines and tools to enhance risk assessment are necessary.
Keywords: completion; directly observed therapy; prophylactic treatment; screening
Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: 1: Haugesund Hospital, Fonna Hospital Trust, Haugesund, Norway 2: Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger Hospital Trust, Stavanger, Norway 3: Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen Hospital Trust, Bergen, Norway 4: Førde Hospital, Førde Hospital Trust, Førde, Norway _contents"> ">Førde Hospital, Førde Hospital Trust, Førde, Norway 5: Centre for Clinical Research, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway _contents"> ">Centre for Clinical Research, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway 6: Haugesund Hospital, Fonna Hospital Trust, Haugesund, Norway; and Institute of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway _contents"> ">Haugesund Hospital, Fonna Hospital Trust, Haugesund, Norway; and Institute of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway 7: Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway_contents"> ">Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
Publication date: 21 June 2013
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