The CDC has reported the successful use of video to monitor patients being treated for latent TB, reports MedPage Today.  

Roughly half of the 50 contacts of a student discovered to have active TB were placed on 12-week isoniazid and rifapentine directly observed therapy, which overwhelmed local health department staff until a video DOT procedure was put in place.

Of the 15 patients whose treatments were remotely monitored, 14 (93%) completed treatment.

The report, published Thursday in the CDC’s MMWR, noted that video DOT, which previously had only been used in the treatment of people with active TB, “is a viable option that can reduce costs and the time involved for both TB staff members and patients” in the setting of latent TB treatment.

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