Registered Nurse (RN) Respiratory Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive All-in-One Study Guide for Exam Success

Noncompliance due to the duration of treatment significantly contributes to the increase in multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Tuberculosis treatments typically require a long duration of therapy, often spanning six months or more, with multiple medications taken daily. This extensive treatment period can lead to patients feeling discouraged or overwhelmed, which may cause them to skip doses or discontinue the medication altogether.

When patients do not adhere to the prescribed treatment regimen, the bacteria that are still present may not be fully eliminated. This incomplete treatment allows the surviving bacteria to develop resistance to the medications being used, leading to the emergence of multi-drug-resistant strains. Maintaining strict adherence to the treatment protocol is essential for effective control of tuberculosis and preventing the evolution of drug-resistant varieties.

The other factors mentioned, while they can play a role in the broader context of tuberculosis management, do not directly address the critical issue of treatment adherence that fuels the development of resistance. For example, incorrect medication or route of administration can impact treatment effectiveness but is not as prevalent or influential as patient noncompliance in the context of MDR-TB development. Likewise, an increase in overall tuberculosis cases does not inherently lead to multi-drug resistance unless accompanied by lapses in treatment adherence.