Short-course rifampin and pyrazinamide compared with isoniazid for latent tuberculosis infection: A cost-effectiveness analysis based on a multicenter clinical trial

Two months of treatment with rifampin-pyrazinamide (RZ) and 9 months of treatment with isoniazid are both recommended for treatment of latent tuberculosis infection in adults without human immunodeficiency virus infection, but the relative cost-effectiveness of these 2 treatments is unknown. We used a Markov model to conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis to assess the impact on life expectancy and costs based on the results of a recent clinical trial that compared the rates of adverse events and completion of the 2 treatment regimens. Compared with no treatment, both regimens increased life expectancy by 1.2 years, but RZ cost $273 more per patient. Sensitivity analyses showed that, assuming equal efficacy between the 2 regimens, there was no threshold completion rate for RZ at which the 2 treatments would be of equal net cost. Under most circumstances, treatment of latent tuberculosis infection with isoniazid is cost-saving than treatment with RZ.