The drug used for tuberculosis include all except?

Appeared in: NCL (MP) Nursing Officer - 2019

Explanation

Dapsone is a sulfone antibiotic primarily indicated for the treatment of leprosy (Hansen's disease), which is caused by Mycobacterium leprae.
It is not included in the standard first-line or second-line treatment regimens for tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Dapsone works by inhibiting folate synthesis in susceptible bacteria, a different mechanism and target compared to primary TB drugs.

Option B: Rifampicin is a core, first-line bactericidal drug in the standard multi-drug regimen for treating active tuberculosis.
Option C: Ethambutol is a first-line bacteriostatic drug included in the initial phase of TB treatment, primarily to prevent the emergence of drug resistance.
Option D: Isoniazid (INH) is the most important and widely used primary drug for both treating active TB and for managing latent TB infection.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Pharmacology of Anti-Tuberculosis Drugs helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
The use of a multi-drug regimen (like HRZE) is the cornerstone of TB therapy to effectively kill the bacteria and prevent the development of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).
Patient education is a critical nursing responsibility. This includes teaching about the importance of strict adherence to the entire course of treatment (often 6 months or longer), how to manage side effects, and when to report serious adverse reactions like jaundice or vision changes.
Nurses must monitor liver function tests (LFTs) for patients on Isoniazid, Rifampicin, and Pyrazinamide, as hepatotoxicity is a shared risk.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the negative keyword 'except'. This signals that you must find the option that does not fit the category described in the question.
The core concept is 'drugs used for tuberculosis'. Your goal is to identify the drug that is NOT used for TB.
Recall the standard first-line treatment regimen for TB. The mnemonic HRZE is highly effective for this: H (Isoniazid), R (Rifampicin), Z (Pyrazinamide), E (Ethambutol).
Systematically check each option against this mnemonic. Rifampicin (R), Ethambutol (E), and Isoniazid (H) are all present in the HRZE regimen.
Dapsone is the only option not part of this group, making it the correct answer to the 'except' question.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Pharmacology Katzung 16e pp. 1323-1325, 1310-1312

E6 Pharmacology Nursing Lilley 11e Part 3 p. 26-28

Practise the full NCL (MP) Nursing Officer - 2019

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.