Intensive phase | Continuation phase | ||
Drug | Duration months | Drug | Duration months |
Ethambutol# Isoniazid Pyrazinamide Rifampicin | 2 | Isoniazid¶ Rifampicin¶ | 4 |
Ethambutol# Isoniazid Pyrazinamide Rifampicin | 2 | Ethambutol¶ Isoniazid¶ Rifampicin¶ | 4+ |
#: ethambutol has to be prescribed in individuals with noncavitary, sputum smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) or with extrapulmonary TB who are known to be HIV negative; in TB meningitis, it should be replaced by streptomycin. ¶: the World Health Organization considers the three times per week continuation phase as an acceptable alternative for any new TB patient receiving directly observed therapy. +: when the level of isoniazid resistance among new cases is elevated and in vitro isoniazid drug susceptibility testing is not available, isoniazid (H)–rifampicin (R)–ethambutol regimen may be an acceptable alternative to HR regimen. Information from [17].