Describe the recommended treatment regimen for TB, including the rationale for combination drug therapy.

Treatment for tuberculosis is a daily combination of drugs over a six- to nine-month period. Combination drug therapy is the current standard for treating TB. This approach has been chosen because it is believed to increase the effectiveness of treatment and reduce the risk of developing resistance.

The two phases of TB treatment each have different drug combinations. The first phase is called the “intensive phase” or “first line phase”. It involves four medications (ethambutol, rifampin pyrazinamide, and isoniazid) taken twice daily over a period of two months. It is designed to eliminate bacteria which multiply quickly in an effort to prevent them from developing resistance. It is crucial that patients take their medications as prescribed during this phase. If one medication is missed or taken incorrectly, it can lead to reduced effectiveness and the emergence of resistance strains. After completion of intensive phase culture results from sputum samples should be obtained to assess whether any drug needs changing based on sensitivity test results – this process may require additional rounds of testing if response is inadequate after initial tests were conducted; however, four drugs initially prescribed will remain as part of treatment course even if changes need to be made afterwards during continuation phase which follows intensive one after patient completes two month long course with all four medications.

Depending on the response seen by doctors during routine checkups before starting second phase of TB treatment (culture tests), continuation can last 4-7 months. When a patient is in continuation stage, they will receive fewer medicines. The main objective here is to maintain remission and not eliminate infection completely (which occurred during the intensive stage). Continuation stage usually consists out three medications: Isoniazid and Rifampin which do not have significant side effects that would outweigh their benefit; third drug might either stay same as before or change depending on results from cultures prior to entering continuation stage – Ethambutol may stay same although in some cases PAS can also be added instead/with other two mentioned above.

Combination drug therapy is effective in treating tuberculosis. It also reduces the chance of a virus replicating enough to develop a resistance against certain medications. This makes future treatment more difficult because it will be less sensitive towards active ingredients commonly found in TB medication like Isoniazid, Rifampin and so on.