Drugs used to cure tuberculosis infection. Pulmonary tuberculosis is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is treated with daily oral doses of antibiotics for at least 9 months. In some cases, the bacteria that cause tuberculosis have developed immunity to specific antituberculosis drugs, so most people with the disease take three or four drugs. Antituberculosis drugs are available by prescription only. They are all associated with some side effects.