Final answer:
The word 'resistant' in multi drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) indicates that the TB bacteria are resistant to some drugs, particularly rifampin and isoniazid, which are the standard treatments for TB. This resistance can complicate treatment and is due to the misuse or mismanagement of antibiotics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word resistant in multi drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) means that the TB bacteria are resistant to some drugs. Specifically, MDR-TB strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are resistant to both rifampin and isoniazid, the drug combination typically prescribed for the treatment of tuberculosis. These strains can develop due to the misuse or mismanagement of antibiotic therapies, which is a significant clinical concern as it makes the treatment of tuberculosis more difficult.
Patients with MDR-TB may require a more complex treatment regimen that includes a combination of antibiotics such as isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide. The emergence of these multidrug-resistant strains is part of a broader issue of antibiotic resistance, which poses a grave threat to global health. It is essential that patients adhere to the full course of treatment to prevent the development of drug-resistant strains of TB and other pathogens.