Rifampicin + Isoniazid + Pyrazinamide

Rifampin, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide is indicated in the initial phase of the short-course treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. During this phase, which should last 2 months, this drug should be administered on a daily, continuous basis. Following the initial phase and treatment ... Read more Rifampin, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide is indicated in the initial phase of the short-course treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. During this phase, which should last 2 months, this drug should be administered on a daily, continuous basis. Following the initial phase and treatment with this drug, treatment should be continued with rifampin and isoniazid for at least 4 months. Treatment should be continued for a longer period of time if the patient is still sputum or culture positive, if resistant organisms are present, or if the patient is HIV positive. In the treatment of tuberculosis, the small number of resistant cells present within large populations of susceptible cells can rapidly become the predominant type. Since resistance can emerge rapidly, susceptibility tests should be performed in the event of persistent positive cultures during the course of treatment. Bacteriologic smears or cultures should be obtained before the start of therapy to confirm the susceptibility of the organism to rifampin, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide and they should be repeated throughout therapy to monitor response to the treatment. If test results show resistance to any of the components of this drug and the patient is not responding to therapy, the drug regimen should be modified.