CDC: Use New Latent TB Treatment

The CDC is recommending a new treatment for latent tuberculosis that is as effective as existing treatment procedures and much easier to carry out. It is estimated that roughly 11.2 Americans have latent tuberculosis infections.

The current standard treatment for latent tuberculosis, an asymptomatic version of the respiratory infection, involves nine months of daily doses of isoniazid, an antibiotic. Only 60 percent of patients complete the regimen. The new treatment would include 12 weekly doses of isoniazid paired with rifapentine, another antibiotic. This treatment has been shown to be equally effective under the supervision of a healthcare worker.

The CDC is targeting their TB prevention efforts toward high-risk populations, including the elderly, healthcare workers and people with diabetes.