Socios En Salud continues to be at the forefront of modern treatments in the fight against tuberculosis (TB). In March 2022, we prescribed for the first time in Peru, through COR, the shortened 3HP scheme for TB preventionin two people living with HIV who were receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) at the medical center.
Now, following the provisions of the new technical health standard for the care of people affected by TB from the Ministry of Health (MINSA), approved in March this year, four patients who have had close contact with sensitive TB cases have become the first cases of HIV-negative people starting the 3HP scheme programmatically in Peru.
The 3HP schemeconsists of administering 12 doses, once a week over a period of three months, of drugs such as isoniazid (H) and rifapentine (P), and which has been shown worldwide to have the same effectiveness in preventing tuberculosis as the prolonged therapies used in the past, thus privileging the patient’s quality of life.
“Since there is a very high risk of developing tuberculosis due to having been in contact with patients with sensitive TB, this 3HP therapy has been offered as a preventive treatment to avoid having the active disease,” explains Dr. Marco Tovar, medical director of SES.
“These [tuberculosis] bacteria that are in a latent state hidden in the lung are not visible on X-rays, and when there is a predisposing factor, such as low defenses, they immediately begin to replicate,” the specialist specifies, highlighting the relevance of preventive therapy against progression to active disease.
A more encouraging present
The application of these new schemes is supported by scientific evidence and recommendations from international organizations that are opening the way in our country to shorter treatments and better adherence included in the new MINSA technical standard for people affected by TB or who have had contact with confirmed cases.
To date, COR is the first and only private health center authorized by MINSA to treat sensitive tuberculosis, through the specific agreement between SES and MINSA. Thanks to this reality, COR health personnel have been able to provide the 3HP scheme in patients with contact with cases of susceptible TB.
“This is an important milestone in the history of the fight against TB in Peru,” stresses infectious disease physician Alberto Mendoza, medical director of the COR. “As long as there are no efficient vaccines, preventive TB treatment, known as PTT, using short schedules such as 3HP, and administered to groups at high risk for TB, will significantly reduce the number of cases that the country reports each year. It is an honor and a source of pride, as an SES worker, to be part of this story.”
It should be noted that the four people who started the 3HP scheme are 67, 51, 4 and 3 years old. This is possible because rifapentine along with isoniazid can be employed to treat both adults and children 2 years of age and older who have had close contact with active TB cases.
“Anyone who has an indication for preventive therapy because they have been exposed to an index case of susceptible TB, or have a diagnosis of latent TB, can receive this 3HP regimen. The only ones who cannot receive it are those who have been in contact with a case of resistant TB,” stresses Dr. Tovar.
Thus, Socios En Salud and its Oscar Romero Medical Center reinforce their commitment to positively impact the fight against tuberculosis through the application of updated schemes, shortened treatments and more effective diagnostic methods, which are the way forward to halt the advance of this disease in Peru, which concentrates 14% of the cases in the Americas region.