The Use of Rifapentine for Preventive Chemotherapy in Children from Risk Groups of Developing Tuberculosis

The objective : to compare efficacy of preventive treatment of children with latent tuberculosis infection using various regimens of anti-tuberculosis drugs and assess the risk of adverse events to these drugs. Subjects and Methods . 117 children of 2-17 years old with latent tuberculosis infection [a positive result of the test with tuberculous recombinant allergen (TRA)] were enrolled in the prospective study. They received preventive treatment with the regimen containing isoniazid and rifapentine. The comparison group included 84 children who received isoniazid and rifampicin. Results . In terms of safety and efficacy of chemotherapy regimens in the study, the best results were obtained when using the regimen containing isoniazid and rifapentine: the therapy was well tolerated, hepatotoxic reactions were registered in 1.7% of children. After a full course of preventive treatment in 24 months of follow-up, there was a statistically significant decrease in the proportion of hyperergic results of the skit test with TRA from 44 (41.9%) to 0 (0%) χ 2 McNemar 43.00; p < 0.01; and conversion of the TRA test result from positive to negative was observed in 18.1% of children.