Page 1626 - Saunders Comprehensive Review For NCLEX-RN

3. Have oxygen and resuscitative equipment available
during administration.
XIII. Tuberculosis Medications (Box 51-7)
A. Description
1. Offer the most effective method for treating the
disease and preventing transmission
2. Treatment of identified lesions depends on whether
the individual has active disease or has only been
exposed to the disease.
3. Treatment is difficult because the bacterium has a
waxy substance on the capsule that makes
penetration and destruction difficult.

4. The use of a multidrug regimen destroys

organisms as quickly as possible and minimizes the
emergence of drug-resistant organisms.
5. Active tuberculosis is treated with a combination of
medications to which the organism is susceptible.

6. Individuals with active tuberculosis are treated

for 6 to 9 months; however, clients with
immunosuppression (e.g., HIV) are treated for a
longer period of time.

7. After the infected individual has received

medication for 2 to 3 weeks, the risk of transmission is
greatly reduced.

8. Most clients have negative sputum cultures

after 3 months of compliance with medication
therapy.

9. Individuals who have been exposed to active

tuberculosis are treated with preventive isoniazid for
9 to 12 months.
B. First-line or second-line medications
1. First-line medications provide the most effective
antituberculosis activity.
2. Second-line medications are used in combination with
first-line medications but are more toxic.
3. Current infecting organisms are proving resistant to
standard first-line medications; the resistant
organisms develop because individuals with the
disease fail to complete the course of treatment, so
surviving bacteria adapt to the medication and
become resistant.

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