There is considerable exigency to take all necessary steps to cure tuberculosis and prevent further emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis. Use of fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) against tuberculosis is now being recommended by WHO as an additional step to ensure proper treatment. This article describes the rationale lying behind the use of FDCs.
The standard short-course treatment regimen of tuberculosis is isoniazid (INH, H), rifampicin (RIF, R), pyrazinamide (PZA, Z), and ethambutol (EMB, E) for the two-month initial phase, followed by a four-month phase of continuation of treatment with INH and RIF or with INH, RIF, and EMB.The use of fixed-dose combinations of anti-TB drugs helps to ensure adequate treatment. FDCs limit the risk of drug-resistant tuberculosis arising as a result of inappropriate drug selection and monotherapy. Treatment options for tuberculosis FDCs Vs single drug…
