Antitubercular drugs

1. ANTITUBERCULAR
DRUGS
PREPARED BY,
MRS. RIJO LIJO

2. INTRODUCTION
• Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally
affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body.

3. INDICATION
• To treat Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) bacteria.

5. MECHANISM OF ACTION
• First –Line Drugs:
• These drugs are used in combinations of two or more agents until bacterial
conversation occurs or maximum improvement is seen.
• The First-line drugs for treating tuberculosis are as follows:
• Isoniazid [INH] (Nydrazid), which affects the mycolic acid coating of the
bacterium.
• Rifampin (Rifadin, RImactane), which alters DNA and RNA activity in the
bacterium.
• Ethionamide (Trecator SC), which prevents cell division.
• Rifapentine (Priftin), which alters DNA and RNA activity, causing cell death.

6. • Second-line drugs :
• If the patient cannot take one or more of the first-line drugs, or if the disease
continues to progress because of the emergences of a resistance strain, the
line drugs can be used.
• These drugs are used in combination with at least one other antituberculosis
The Second-line drugs for treating tuberculosis are as follows:
• Ethambutol (Myambutol), which inhibits cellular metabolism.
• Pyrazinamide (generic), which is both bactericidal and bacteriostatic.

7. • Third-line drugs:
• If therapeutic success is still not achieved, a third- line combination of two
antituberculosis drugs can be tried.
• Using the drug in combination helps to decrease the emergence of resistant
strains and to affect the bacteria at various phases during their long and slow life
cycle.
• The Third-line drugs for treating tuberculosis are as follows:
• Capreomycin (Capastat), whose mechanism of action is not known.
• Cycloserine (Seromycin), which inhibits cell wall synthesis and leads to cell death.

9. CONTRAINDICATIONS
• Hypersensitivity reactions.
• Pregnancy.
• CNS dysfunction.

10. ADVERSE REACTIONS

11. NURSES RESPONSIBILITY
• Educate the patient and family regarding the disease, its prevention and
treatment.
• Check culture and sensitivity reports to ensure that this is the drug of choice for
this patient and arrange repeated cultures if response is not as anticipated.
• Monitor renal and liver function test results before and periodically during
therapy to arrange for dosage reduction as needed.
• Ensure that the patient receives the full course of the drugs to improve
effectiveness and decrease the risk of development of resistant bacterial strains.