A latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) can become a disease. It should therefore be treated prophylactically / preventively in people with an increased risk of contracting the disease. There is an increased risk of contracting the disease after recent contact with people who have contracted infectious tuberculosis. People with immunocompromising diseases (e.g. HIV) or drugs that affect the immune system (e.g. TNF-alpha antibody therapy) can also contract tuberculosis more frequently. Children under the age of 5 fall ill particularly frequently after contact with a person suffering from infectious tuberculosis and should always be treated preventively.
In contrast to complete therapy, preventive therapy is carried out with fewer drugs. Tuberculosis must first be ruled out by means of an X-ray examination of the lungs and possibly other examinations.
Preventive therapy of LTBI (also known as chemoprevention) can be carried out with the following drugs:
- Rifampicin and isoniazid daily for 3 months or
- Rifampicin daily for 4 months or
- Isoniazid for 9 months or
The dosage is adjusted to the body weight.
The decision as to whether preventive therapy is appropriate and which medication is best used should be made together with experienced doctors or the public health department.
Shorter preventive therapies use the drug rifapentine, which is not approved in the EU.