Question

The M. tb strain is found to be a MDR-TB. What would this mean practically?

A. Need for longer than 6 months of treatment with second line drugs
B. Need for longer than 6 months of treatment with first line drugs
C. Need for longer than 6 months with third line drugs
D. No need to treat his infection as it is a waste of anti-TB meds

Answer 1

MDR-TB requires a treatment that is longer than 6 months using second line drugs due to resistance to the standard first line drugs for tuberculosis.

Step-by-step explanation:

If an M. tb strain is found to be a MDR-TB (multidrug-resistant tuberculosis), it would mean practically that the patient will need a longer than 6-month treatment with second line drugs. This is because MDR-TB strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are resistant to the first line drugs typically prescribed for TB treatment, such as rifampin and isoniazid. Subsequently, more complex and often more toxic drug regimens are required to treat MDR-TB, which can also result in a lengthier treatment period to ensure the eradication of the infection.