A new study reveals a much simpler treatment regimen to prevent tuberculosis in countries with low-to-medium incidence, Reuters reports. People who had a latent infection—which is far more common than an active infection—and who took a combination of rifapentine, an antibiotic, and isoniazid 12 times over three months fared as well as those who received the standard treatment that requires 270 daily doses of isoniazid. Researchers stressed the need for additional studies before the new regimen can be recommended in countries with a high incidence of the disease, especially those with high HIV prevalence, due to known drug interactions between some HIV meds and rifapentine. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sponsored the study. More than 11 million Americans have latent TB, and between 5 and 10 percent of them develop the disease.

To read the Reuters article, click here.