Rifapentine-based treatment of tuberculosis infection in Spanish adolescents.

INTRODUCTION

Tuberculosis infection (TBI) in adolescents carries a high risk of progression to tuberculosis disease, yet treatment adherence remains a challenge.

METHODS

Case series description.

RESULTS

We describe a real-world experience of implementing a 12-dose weekly regimen of isoniazid (INH) and rifapentine (RPT) under video-observed therapy (VOT) in four adolescent diagnosed with TBI in a contact tracing study. This approach was chosen due to logistical and adherence concerns that made daily regimens and directly observed therapy (DOT) unfeasible. RPT was requested as a foreign medication and approved within three weeks. All patients completed treatment with 100% adherence and good tolerance.

CONCLUSIONS

Our experience supports the feasibility, tolerability, and high adherence of VOT-based weekly INH-RPT regimens in adolescents, despite regulatory barriers limiting RPT access in Europe. Broader availability of RPT and innovative adherence strategies like VOT are urgently needed to optimize TB preventive treatment in this age group. .