What type of drug is Isoniazid?

Isoniazid is classified as an antitubercular drug, specifically designed to prevent and treat tuberculosis (TB). It works by inhibiting the synthesis of mycolic acid, an essential component of the bacterial cell wall of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This mechanism of action makes isoniazid particularly effective against TB.

While antibiotics can refer to a broad category of drugs that target bacteria, isoniazid is more accurately categorized for its specific action against the tuberculosis bacterium, distinguishing it from other antibiotics that are not focused on this infection.

Antifungals, on the other hand, are designed to combat fungal infections and have no application in treating TB, while antiviral agents target viral infections. Thus, considering its specific use and mechanism of action in the context of tuberculosis, identifying isoniazid as an antitubercular drug is the most accurate classification.