Shortened Treatment With Rifampin for Latent Tuberculosis Found Safe

Investigators from multiple institutions conducted a randomized controlled trial to compare the safety of 4 months of rifampin treatment to 9 months of isoniazid treatment for latent tuberculosis in children. Participants 0–17 years old were enrolled at study sites in several countries. Youth were eligible if they had a positive screening test result. Children <5 years old with a negative tuberculin skin test (TST) who had a household contact with tuberculosis were also enrolled but were excluded from the analysis if their TST remained negative for 8 weeks following treatment of the household contact and their provider opted to stop treatment.

Study participants were randomized to 9 months of isoniazid treatment (10–15 mg/kg/day) or 4 months of rifampin treatment (10–20 mg/kg/day). Treatment adherence was assessed by pill …