Asymptomatic TB With Innovative Modified Short-course Regimens

Clinical Efficacy of a Short-course Regimen for Asymptomatic Tuberculosis in China

This study is a randomized controlled trial among asymptomatic tuberculosis individuals aiming to assess whether the standard treatment duration can be shortened to 17 weeks without increasing the types or doses of anti-tuberculosis medications or 13 weeks with the high-dose rifapentine and moxifloxacin.

This study is a prospective, open-label, multicenter randomized controlled trial. The randomization process will use centralized stratified block randomization to minimize bias across province of participating sites.

Asymptomatic tuberculosis individuals included in the study will be randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to three groups: Standard Regimen Group, Four-month Regimen Group or Three-month Regimen Group. The standard regimen consists of rifampicin (R), isoniazid (H), pyrazinamide (Z), and ethambutol (E) for 8 weeks, followed by rifampicin and isoniazid for an additional 18 weeks. The four-month regimen group follows the same regimen as the standard regimen group for the initial 8 weeks, followed by a continuation phase of daily rifampin (R) and isoniazid (H) for 9 weeks. The three-month regimen consists of high-dose rifapentine (P), isoniazid (H), pyrazinamide (Z), and moxifloxacin (M) for 8 weeks, followed high-dose Rifapentine (P), isoniazid (H), and moxifloxacin (M) for 5 weeks. For individuals in the four-month and the three-month regimen group, the treatment response will be evaluated at the end of the treatment phase. If the sputum culture remains positive at week 8, or if the radiological examination at the end of treatment still shows unclosed cavities, the continuation phase treatment will be extended by an additional 8 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 1. Age between 14 to 80 years;
• 2. Male or female;
• 3. Willing to provide signed informed consent, or parental consent and participant assent;
• 4. Individuals with respiratory tract specimen (including sputum/bronchoalveolar lavage fluid/lung tissue) positive for acid-fast bacilli smear/culture/molecular amplification for M. tuberculosis;
• 5. No unexplained TB-suggestive symptoms in the three months prior to screening, including cough lasting more than two weeks, night sweats, fever or weight loss;
• 6. If non-menopausal woman, agree to use or have used effective contraception during treatment.

Exclusion Criteria:

• 1. Combined extrapulmonary tuberculosis;
• 2. Induviduals with extensive lesion (lesion involvement exceeding 50% or the aggregate diameter of all cavities exceeding 6 cm) ;
• 3. Individuals will be excluded from enrollment if, at the time of enrollment, their M. tuberculosis isolate is already known to be resistant to any one or more of the following: rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, ethambutol, or fluoroquinolones;
• 4. Individuals with impaired liver function (alanine transaminase [ALT] or total bilirubin [TBIL] more than 2.5 times the upper limit of normal) or combined with liver cirrhosis;
• 5. Hemoglobin is less than 70g/L, or platelet is less than 50*10^9/L;
• 6. Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) is less than 30 mL/min/1.73m2;
• 7. Known allergic or intolerant to any of the study drugs;
• 8. Pregnant or breast-feeding;
• 9. Prior anti-TB treatment for more than one week in the past six months;
• 10.Known history of epilepsy, uncontrolled diabetes;
• 11.For HIV-positive subjects, T-lymphocyte (CD4 cell) counts less than 100 cells/mm3;
• 12. Unable to tolerant oral treatment.