The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its recommendation for the use of a short course treatment regimen called 3HP to reach even more people with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Treatment of latent TB infection is essential to controlling and eliminating TB in the United States because it substantially reduces the risk that latent TB infection will progress to TB disease. The updated recommendations include the use of 3HP:

• By directly observed therapy or self-administered therapy in persons over 2 years of age
• In children and adolescents, 2-11 years old
• In persons with latent TB infection who are living with HIV/AIDS and taking antiretroviral medications with acceptable drug interactions with rifapentine

3HP plays a key role in protecting patients from the consequences of TB disease

• Although people with LTBI don’t feel sick and can’t transmit TB to others, without treatment, on average 1 in 10 will develop active TB disease
• The 3HP regimen can help remove current barriers to latent TB treatment for both patients and providers
• Shorter treatment regimens can help patients complete LTBI treatment faster and with fewer side effects

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