Question

The patient is a 48-year-old man who is being release from prison after 15 years of incarceration. On his final physical, he is found to be 20 pounds underweight for his height and has a productive cough. He smokes three packs of cigarettes daily and is exposed to a great deal of secondhand smoke in the prison environment. On release, he is going to live with his 70-year-old aunt. A tuberculin skin test injected 3 days ago shows a 12 mm area of induration around the injection site. His records indicate that his last skin test, performed 18 months ago, did not result in any reaction. After other tests confirm that he has active TB, he is started on first-line antituberculosis therapy drugs.

1. Which drugs are included in first-line therapy (list at least 4 drugs)?

2. What should this patient be taught about his medication therapy (duration of therapy, alcohol consumption and drug use or drug-drug interactions - prescription and non prescription).

3. Are there any foods or beverages that should be avoided with this therapy?

4. Are there any special instructions that should be included (take with food or water, at night or in the morning, etc?)