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Sravani.Kethireddy* et al. /International Journal Of Pharmacy&Technology• Isoniazid kills the great bulk of bacteria, rapidly rendering the patient non-infectious withindays of starting treatment• Rifampicin eliminates the persisting bacteria (so called sterilization) allowing treatment time tobe shortened considerably.• The new patients should be started on isoniazid and rifampicin plus at least one drug from thesecond column.• The addition of pyrazinamide for the first two months only allows treatment to be given for aslittle as six months• If ethambutol only is given for the first two months of treatment instead of pyrazinamide, thetotal time of treatment should be nine months.• The current recommendation is to give two drugs from the second column; pyrazinamide andethambutol, in addition to isoniazid and rifampicin until culture and sensitivity results areavailable.Fig no 6,7: action of anti tuberculosis drugs.[87][88]IJPT | June 2010 | Vol. 2 | Issue No.2 | 206-244Page 221