Background: Treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is essential for refugee patients who have been relocated to the United States to prevent progression to active infection.
Objective: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary team approach, embedded within a primary care clinic, to treatment of LTBI in newly resettled refugee patients compared with a local health department.
Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective chart review of newly resettled refugee patients 18-89 years old with a diagnosis of LTBI. The primary objective was completion rate of LTBI therapy within 1 year of resettlement. Secondary objectives were incidence of adverse events, regimen switches, and adherence rate.
Results: A total of 58 patients were included in the study: 14 individuals through the multidisciplinary clinic and 44 individuals with the local health department. Completion of therapy within 1 year of resettlement was seen in 71.4% of patients (n = 10) in the multidisciplinary clinic compared with 72.7% (n = 32) at the health department. There were 7 patients who underwent a regimen switch, all of whom were in the health department arm. Adverse effects occurred in 14.2% of patients in the multidisciplinary clinic and 15.9% of patients in the health department arm. Treatment adherence was 98.6% in the multidisciplinary clinic and 90.5% in the local health department arm.
Conclusion: Use of a multidisciplinary team was successful in completion of LTBI treatment in refugee patients, helping to alleviate barriers to treatment completion by ensuring adherence and close follow-up.
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