Current management options for latent tuberculosis: a review

rrent management options for latent tuberculosis: a review Review (1472) Total Article Views Authors: Norton BL, Holland DP Published Date November 2012 Volume 2012:5 Pages 163 - 173 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IDR.S29180 Received: 29 August 2012 Accepted: 01 October 2012 Published: 29 November 2012 Brianna L Norton, David P Holland Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA Abstract: Tuberculosis remains the world’s second leading infectious cause of death, with nearly one-third of the global population latently infected. Treatment of latent tuberculosis infection is a mainstay of tuberculosis-control efforts in low-to medium-incidence countries. Isoniazid monotherapy has been the standard of care for decades, but its utility is impaired by poor completion rates. However, new, shorter-course regimens using rifamycins improve completion rates and are cost-saving compared with standard isoniazid monotherapy. We review the currently available therapies for latent tuberculosis infection and their toxicities and include a brief economic comparison of the different regimens.