Drug-drug interactions in inmates treated for human immunodeficiency virus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection or disease: an institutional tuberculosis outbreak

Clin Infect Dis. 2002 Nov 1;35(9):1106-12. doi: 10.1086/343047. Epub 2002 Oct 10.

Abstract

The use of rifamycins is limited by drug interactions in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons who are receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). During a tuberculosis (TB) outbreak at a prison housing HIV-infected inmates, rifabutin was used to treat 238 men (13 case patients and 225 contacts). Steady-state peak plasma rifabutin concentrations were obtained after rifabutin dosages were adjusted for men receiving single-interacting HAART (with either 1 protease inhibitor [PI] or efavirenz), multi-interacting HAART (with either 2 PIs or > or =1 PI with efavirenz), and for noninteracting HAART (>1 nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor or no HAART) without rifabutin dose adjustments. Low rifabutin concentrations occurred in 9% of those receiving noninteracting HAART, compared with 19% of those receiving single-interacting and 29% of those receiving multi-interacting HAART (chi2, 3.76; P=.05). Of 225 contacts treated with rifabutin-pyrazinamide, 158 (70%) completed treatment while incarcerated. Rifabutin-pyrazinamide therapy was difficult to implement, because of the need for dosage adjustments and expert clinical management.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Drug Interactions
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Institutional Practice
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / drug effects
  • Prisoners*
  • Rifabutin / therapeutic use*
  • Tuberculosis / drug therapy
  • Tuberculosis / epidemiology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Rifabutin