Population Screening and Treatment of LTBI in TB Control in the US
Margarita Elsa Villarino MD MPH
Division of TB Elimination, CDC
April 14, 2004

TB Prevention and Control in the United States
The fundamental strategies include:
Early detection and treatment of patients who have active TB disease
Therapy for persons with latent TB infection to prevent the development of TB
Prevention of institutional transmission of M. tb
BCG vaccination is not recommended as a routine strategy

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Therapy for Latent Tuberculosis Infection
Rationale
Reduce individual risk for developing active disease
Shrink pool of infected persons at risk for tuberculosis

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Newest Terminology
Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI)
Treatment of LTBI (TLTBI)
Targeted testing (TTTLTBI)
“Decision to test is a decision to treat.”

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Reported TB Cases per 100,000 Population
United States, 1953 – 2000

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Factors Affecting the Impact of TTTLTBI
Tuberculin skin testing: the diagnosis
Prediction of progression to disease
Completion of therapy and programmatic costs
Efficacy of treatment
Safety of treatment

TB Prevention Effectiveness

The Tuberculin Skin Test (TST)
Some 2-12 wks after infection with M. tb, there is a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction at the site of tuberculin injection
DTH reactions begin 5-6 hrs after injection and  reach a maximum at 48-72 hrs
Since the 1930s, TST has been used to screen persons or populations for LTBI

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Prevalence rate of LTBI
Yield of testing
higher rate gives higher yield
Predictive value of a positive result
higher rate gives better predictive value

Positive Predictive Value of a Tuberculin Test
Am J Respir Crit Care Med; 2000, Vol 161, p 1389

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Skin Test Reactions to Mycobacterium tuberculosis Purified Protein Derivative and Mycobacterium avium Sensitin Among Health Care Workers and Medical Students in the United States
“Infections with NTM are responsible for the majority of 5-14 mm PPD reactions among US-born health care workers...”

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Tuberculosis Screening in Private Physicians' Offices, Pennsylvania, 1996
“Only 8/59 (14%) physicians followed published guidelines for placement and reading of tuberculin tests.”

QuantiFERON®-TB (QFT)
whole-blood IFN g release
assay for the detection of
M. tuberculosis infection

QFT        vs.       TST
in vitro
multiple antigen mixes
no boosting
1 patient visit
minimal inter-reader variability
results in 1 day
stimulate w/i 12 hrs
in vivo
single antigen mix (PPD)
boosting
2 patient visits
inter-reader variability
results in 2 - 3 days
read in 48 - 72 hrs

Learning Objective
(QuantiFERON)
Name prospective new blood tests that could detect latent infection as well as a skin test can?
QuantiFERON®-TB (QFT) is approved for specific indications.  Research is underway for robust tests with broader applications.

Factors Affecting the Impact TTTLTBI
Tuberculin skin testing
Prediction of progression to disease
Completion of therapy and programmatic costs
Efficacy of treatment
Safety of treatment

TB Prevention Effectiveness

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Risk of Progression to TB
Markers for risk:
recent infection
contacts
converters
underlying medical conditions: HIV infection

Risk of TB Disease by Time of M. tb Infection
Among 1,472 persons enrolled in the placebo arm of 2 trials of the efficacy of LTBI (Ferebee SH. Adv Tuberc Res. 1970)
19 developed TB in 1st yr of follow-up (FU)
7 developed TB in subsequent 7 yrs of FU
Difference in case rate 12.9 vs 1.6 per 1,000 person-yrs
Among 2,550 British children enrolled in the unvaccinated arm of TB vaccine study (Sutherland I. TSRU Prog Rep. 1978)
121 (5%) developed TB in 15 yrs of FU
Of these, 54% cases during 1st yr, 82% within 2 yrs

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Factors Affecting the Impact of TTTLTBI
Tuberculin skin testing
Prediction of progression to disease
Completion of therapy and programmatic costs
Efficacy of treatment
Safety of treatment

TB Prevention Effectiveness

Issues Associated With Completion of TLTBI
Programs and systems
Duration of regimen

Acceptability of Short-Course Rifampin and Pyrazinamide Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis Infection Among Jail Inmates
>21,000 admissions (1 yr.)
75% of inmates tested
68% of tests read
07.3% reactor rate
12.3% start rate
48% completion rate (81 inmates; 2-mo regimen)

A Tuberculin Screening and Isoniazid Preventive Therapy Program in an Inner-city Population
7,246 participants, various community settings
4,701 (65%) tests read
  809 (17%) reactors
  409 eligible for treatment
   84 completed treatment

Optimal Duration of INH Therapy for the TLTBI, MMWR 2000;49(No.6)
The duration of INH therapy should be >6 months to provide maximum protection.
Therapy for 9 months appears to be sufficient, with little or no value of longer treatment.

Effect of the Duration of INH Therapy on the Prevention of Active TB
TB Case Rates     Reduction in TB
                           Placebo    INH (10 yr. follow-up)
Patients taking >80% of medication for:
10-12 mo   24.9        7.9 68.3
0 - 9 mo   18.6      15.6 16.1
Patients taking medication >10 months compliant for:
60%-79%    26.2      11.2 57.3
40%-59%    19.0        9.1 52.1
Ferebee, SH. Adv Tub Res 1970;17:28-106


How Much Isoniazid Is Needed for the Prevention of Tuberculosis?
Longer duration of therapy corresponded to lower TB rates among those who took 0-9 mo
No extra increase in protection among those who took >9 mo

Percentage of Infected Contacts
 Age 15 - 34
Completing Treatment for LTBI

TB Prevention Effectiveness

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Isoniazid Preventive Therapy
HIV Infection - TST Positive

Short-Course Regimens
HIV Infection - TST Positive

Problems Associated with TLTBI
Low adherence with INH therapy, mostly associated with long duration
Potential better adherence with shorter (2RZ) regs
Effectiveness of 2RZ has not been studied in
HIV-seronegative persons (decreased tolerability?)
children
High pill burden, drug toxicity, drug interactions with 2RZ
DOT necessary for intermittent regimens

USPHS Study 26:  Highly intermittent short-course treatment of LTBI
Patients with LTBI at high risk for developing active disease will receive INH for 9 months OR once weekly INH/rifapentine for 12 doses (3INH/RPT)
Main study outcome:  rate of development of active tuberculosis
Almost ~3,000 enrolled to date, sample size = 8,000 total or 4,000 per arm

Factors Affecting the Impact of TTTLTBI
Tuberculin skin testing
Prediction of progression to disease
Completion of therapy and programmatic costs
Efficacy of treatment
Safety of treatment

Toxicity of Isoniazid in Persons Without HIV Infection
Hepatitis 10.3/1000 persons
Death due to hepatitis 0.6/1000 persons
Age-related hepatotoxicity
£ 35 years 0.6-1.3/100 persons
> 35 years 2.0-3.1/100 persons
Risk factors
Active liver disease, Alcohol
Mortality risk associated with pregnancy, Hispanic ethnicity

Reports of Severe Liver Injury Associated
with RZ Treatment of LTBI
October 2000 – May 23, 2002
40 *cases (17 jurisdictions)
32 hospitalized
  8 fatal
33 investigated
96 other reports of liver injury
  * A case is defined as a person who was hospitalized or died due to
    liver injury associated with RZ.

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Essential TB Infection Control Activities
Screening.  Measures to identify persons with active TB disease or LTBI
Containment.  Measures used to prevent transmission
Assessment.  Collection and analysis of data to monitor whether the S&C activities are being implemented

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