Antituberculosis agents

Antituberculosis agents (pronunciation: an-tee-too-ber-kyoo-lo-sis ay-jents) are a class of pharmaceutical drugs specifically designed to combat tuberculosis (TB), a highly infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Etymology

The term "antituberculosis" is derived from the prefix "anti-", meaning against, and "tuberculosis", the name of the disease these agents are designed to treat.

Types of Antituberculosis Agents

There are several types of antituberculosis agents, each with a unique mechanism of action. These include:

Isoniazid (INH): This is a first-line antituberculosis medication that inhibits the synthesis of mycolic acid, a key component of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell wall.

Rifampin (RIF): Another first-line medication, Rifampin inhibits DNA-dependent RNA polymerase, preventing the bacterium from replicating.

Pyrazinamide (PZA): Pyrazinamide is a prodrug that is converted into its active form by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is believed to disrupt the bacterium's cell membrane.

Ethambutol (EMB): Ethambutol inhibits the synthesis of arabinogalactan, a component of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell wall.

Related Terms

Drug resistance: This occurs when Mycobacterium tuberculosis becomes resistant to one or more antituberculosis agents, making the disease more difficult to treat.

Directly observed therapy: This is a strategy used to ensure that patients with tuberculosis take their medication as prescribed.

Latent tuberculosis: This is a state in which individuals are infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis but do not have active disease.

Miliary tuberculosis: This is a severe form of tuberculosis that affects multiple organs.

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Antituberculosis agents