Pharmacology Antiviral Agents Practice Test

The combination of Rifampin with Pyrazinamide is a common strategy in the treatment regimen for tuberculosis due to their complementary mechanisms. Rifampin is a powerful bactericidal agent that works by inhibiting bacterial RNA synthesis, thus effectively killing Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Pyrazinamide, on the other hand, is effective against dormant bacteria and helps to decrease the time to conversion of sputum cultures from positive to negative, particularly in acidic environments found within macrophages where the bacteria can persist.

The rationale for using these two drugs together lies in their ability to enhance efficacy while mitigating the risk of drug resistance. Pyrazinamide assists in shortening the duration of therapy required for tuberculosis, which is typically lengthy due to the nature of mycobacterial infections. Together with Rifampin, they are part of a first-line treatment regimen that also includes Isoniazid and Ethambutol.

In contrast, the other choices do not have a role in the standard treatment for tuberculosis. Azoles are antifungal medications, Nevirapine is an antiretroviral used primarily for HIV, and Ketoconazole is also an antifungal. These drugs do not target mycobacterial infections, which is why they are not relevant