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Experts are concerned that Isoniazid, an antibiotic commonly used to treat tuberculosis (TB) in HIV-positive people, might also result in multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB).
Ted Cohen of the Harvard School of Public Health developed a mathematical model that predicted Isoniazid use would reduce TB prevalence and mortality for several years but also would accelerate the development of MDR-TB.
The World Health Organisation recommends Isoniazid for people living with both HIV and TB to prevent latent TB from becoming active.
Cohen, however, noted in a statement: "We're not saying Isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) policies are ill-advised, but they must be coupled with an understanding that large-scale IPT programmes should be ready to diagnose and treat individuals with MDR-TB as part of the programmes."
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions