Tuberculosis (TB)

Prescribing Notes:

• Treatment for tuberculosis infection should be initiated in consultation with respiratory or infection specialists.
• Tuberculosis should be considered if there is a lack of response to first line antimicrobial treatment.
• Tuberculosis is treated in two phases - an initial phase using 4 drugs and a continuation phase using 2 drugs in fully sensitive cases.
• The concurrent use of 4 drugs during the initial phase is designed to reduce the bacterial population as rapidly as possible and to prevent the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria. The initial phase drugs should be continued for 2 months. After the initial phase, treatment is continued for a further 4 months.
• Drug administration needs to be fully supervised (directly observed therapy, DOT) in patients who cannot comply reliably with the treatment regimen.