Medical treatment

Abstract

The main anti-tuberculous drugs are currently Rifampicin, Isoniazid, Ethambutol, Pyrazinamide and Streptomycin. Chemoantibiotic treatment aims at clinical-radiological recovery by the elimination of the metabolically active mycobacterial population, which is shown by the negativization of the microbiological examinations. Since the mycobacteria in a host reach the proliferative stage, when they are most vulnerable to the chemoantibiotics, at different times, the drugs must be administered for months. Several drugs must be associated to forestall mycobacterial resistance. The tendency today is mainly for short 6-month treatments. Most forms of urogenital tuberculosis are treated as follows: chemoantibiotic therapy with 4 drugs for the first month, if necessary associated with corticotherapy; subsequent radical or reconstructive surgery; chemoantibiotic therapy for at least another 5 months with 2 drugs.