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Treatment of Drug-Susceptible Tuberculosis Disease in People Infected with HIV

Introduction

The management of HIV-related tuberculosis (TB) disease is complex. Although the treatment of TB in people with HIV is essentially the same as for patients without HIV, there are some important differences.

Recommended Regimen

The recommended treatment of TB disease in adults infected with HIV (when the disease is caused by organisms that are known or presumed to be susceptible to first-line drugs) is a 6-month regimen consisting of:

  • An initial phase of isoniazid (INH), a rifamycin (see Drug Interactions below), pyrazinamide (PZA), and ethambutol (EMB) for the first 2 months.
  • A continuation phase of INH and a rifamycin for the last 4 months.

Patients with advanced HIV (CD4 counts < 100/µl) should be treated with daily or three-times-weekly therapy in both the initial and the continuation phases. Twice weekly therapy may be considered in patients with less-advanced immunosuppression (CD4 counts ≥ 100/µl). Once-weekly INH and rifapentine in the continuation phase should not be used in any patient infected with HIV.

Six months should be considered the minimum duration of treatment for adults with HIV, even for patients with culture-negative TB. Prolonging treatment to 9 months (extend continuation phase to 7 months) for HIV-infected patients with delayed response to therapy (e.g., culture positive after 2 months of treatment) should be strongly considered.

Drug Interactions

A major concern in treating TB in people infected with HIV is the interaction of rifampin (RIF) with certain antiretroviral agents (some protease inhibitors [PIs] and nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors [NRTIs]). Rifabutin, which has fewer problematic drug interactions, may be used as an alternative to RIF.

As new antiretroviral agents and more pharmacokinetic data become available, these recommendations are likely to be modified.

Case Management

Directly observed therapy (DOT) and other adherence promoting strategies should be used in all patients with HIV-related TB. Whenever possible, the care for HIV-related TB should be provided by or in consultation with experts in management of both TB and HIV. The care for persons with HIV-related TB should include close attention to the possibility of TB treatment failure, antiretroviral treatment failure, paradoxical reactions of TB (e.g., temporary worsening of signs or symptoms of TB), side effects for all drugs used, and drug toxicities associated with increased serum concentrations of rifamycins.

For More Information

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Treatment of Tuberculosis. MMWR 2003;52(No. RR-11).

    Errata

  2. Guidance documents for the medical management of HIV

  3. Updated Guidelines for the Use of Rifamycins for the Treatment of Tuberculosis Among HIV-Infected Patients Taking Protease Inhibitors or Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors. MMWR 2004: 53 (No. 2)

  4. Managing Drug Interactions in the Treatment of HIV-Related Tuberculosis
 
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