The primary reason for the use of drug combination in the treatment of tuberculosis is to:
Many drugs are used together (multiple drug therapy; MDT) for treatment of tuberculosis. There are several reasons to use MDT in tuberculosis. The most impoant being to prevent the emergence of drug resistance. The other reasons are: -To make the person non-infectious quickly. -To decrease the treatment duration and thus improve patient compliance.
Ensure patient compliance with the drug regimen
Enhance activity against metabolically inactive mycobacteria
Delay or prevent the emergence of resistance
Provide prophylaxis against other bacterial infections
Mycobacterial Diseases (TB, Leprosy and MAC)