Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of levofloxacin therapy for household contacts of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in VietnamResearch in context
Summary: Background: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) threatens global TB control, on account of poor treatment outcomes, high treatment toxicity and costs. Recent trials demonstrated the effectiveness of six-months of levofloxacin (6Lfx) to prevent TB disease among high-risk contacts. However...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | The Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666606525002056 |
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| Summary: | Summary: Background: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) threatens global TB control, on account of poor treatment outcomes, high treatment toxicity and costs. Recent trials demonstrated the effectiveness of six-months of levofloxacin (6Lfx) to prevent TB disease among high-risk contacts. However, the cost-effectiveness of this strategy has not previously been evaluated. Methods: The VQUIN study was a double-blinded randomised control trial in Vietnam assessing the effectiveness of 6Lfx in household contacts of multidrug resistant/rifampicin resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB) to prevent progression to TB disease. Incorporating in-trial costs and effectiveness outcomes from the VQUIN trial, we developed a closed cohort, decision-analytic Markov model to assess the cost effectiveness of 6Lfx versus placebo in a cohort exposed to MDR/RR-TB in Vietnam. Findings: Over a 20-year time horizon, the provision of 6Lfx preventative therapy to household contacts of people infected with MDR/RR-TB was found to gain a total of 40.1 QALYs per 1000 population and save US$23,145 per 1000 population, indicating the strategy was cost saving. MDR/RR-TB cases averted over 20 years was 19.9 per 1000 population treated with 6Lfx, and the number of deaths averted was 3.2 per 1000 people treated. Interpretation: 6Lfx therapy is a cost-saving strategy to reduce the incidence of active disease in household contacts of MDR/RR-TB in a resource-limited setting. Funding: National Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant (#1081443). GJF was supported by a NHMRC Leadership Fellowship (Level 1) (#2007920). |
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| ISSN: | 2666-6065 |