standard anti-tuberculosis regimen

The standard anti-tuberculosis regimen, commonly referred to as the HRZE regimen, is a first-line combination therapy used for the treatment of drug-susceptible tuberculosis. It consists of an intensive phase of four drugs—isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol—typically administered for two months, followed by a continuation phase of isoniazid and rifampicin for four months. This regimen targets Mycobacterium tuberculosis through multiple synergistic mechanisms: isoniazid inhibits mycolic acid synthesis, rifampicin inhibits bacterial RNA transcription, pyrazinamide disrupts membrane potential and trans-translation in dormant bacilli, and ethambutol inhibits cell wall arabinogalactan synthesis. Together, these agents provide bactericidal and sterilizing activity to cure active infection and prevent the emergence of drug resistance.

Other names

2HRZE/4HR regimenHRZE regimenRIPE regimenstandard 6-month anti-tuberculosis regimenstandard6-month anti-tuberculosis regimenstandard-6-month anti-tuberculosis regimenstandard 6-month regimenstandard6-month regimenstandard-6-month regimenstandard anti-TB regimenstandard anti-tuberculosis therapystandard chemotherapy regimen for tuberculosis