Tuberculosis Question

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

One of our graduates just took his boards Thursday and he said there were lots and lots of med questions on it--many he had never heard of . The computer shut off at 75 questions and he was having lots of prioritizing questions by then (such as 'You are the community health nurse... which patient would you be most concerned about', etc., etc.), so the higher order questions at the end is a good sign.

One of the questions involved the TB drug INH. Our former student stated that it asked about a drug beginning with 'M' (he doesn't remember the name) and the question asked why 'M' is given with INH? Does anyone know what this mysterious 'M' drug is? ... and why it is given? I know that vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is often given with INH to decrease the chance of nerve damage in the extremities. Thanks for any information on this mysterious medication you can offer.

[suzanne4, RN]

One of our graduates just took his boards Thursday and he said there were lots and lots of med questions on it--many he had never heard of . The computer shut off at 75 questions and he was having lots of prioritizing questions by then (such as 'You are the community health nurse... which patient would you be most concerned about', etc., etc.), so the higher order questions at the end is a good sign.

One of the questions involved the TB drug INH. Our former student stated that it asked about a drug beginning with 'M' (he doesn't remember the name) and the question asked why 'M' is given with INH? Does anyone know what this mysterious 'M' drug is? ... and why it is given? I know that vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is often given with INH to decrease the chance of nerve damage in the extremities. Thanks for any information on this mysterious medication you can offer.

Due to an increase in MDR-TB, usually a combination of drugs are given. But I don't remember one specifically starting with an M. There are several new combination ones on the market, but I don't think that they would have been listed on the exam as they are quite new. Ethabumbutol and Rifampin are still two of the most common drugs used, in addtion to INH.

(MDB-TB stands for multiple drug resistant TB)

[jemb]

We used to give Rifampin with INH. There's a new drug I read about recently for resistant tb strains--rifampentine, I think.

Neither starts with 'm', but could that have been what he remembered?

[unknown99, BSN, RN]

There are 2 drugs used for active tuberculosis that start with the letter M.

They are Myambutol-- an antitubercular

and Mycobutin-- an antimycobacterium agent.

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

Thanks for the info! There's always the possibility the student may have a skewed recollection of the question due to the extreme stress of taking the boards! Maybe he remembered MDRTB as Suzanne suggested. Or maybe Myambutol or Mycobutin were mentioned along with INH as treatment for MDRTB. We'll find out Tuesday for sure whether he passed!