Treatment FAQ

why does tuberculosis involve months of antibiotic treatment?

by Edward Hahn Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Taking medication for 6 months is the best way to ensure the TB bacteria are killed. If you stop taking your antibiotics before you complete the course or you skip a dose, the TB infection may become resistant to the antibiotics.

Full Answer

Why is it important to finish treatment for tuberculosis (TB)?

It is very important that people who have TB disease are treated, finish the medicine, and take the drugs exactly as prescribed. If they stop taking the drugs too soon, they can become sick again; if they do not take the drugs correctly, the TB bacteria that are still alive may become resistant to those drugs.

What drugs are used to treat tuberculosis (TB)?

There are 10 drugs currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating TB. Of the approved drugs, the first-line anti-TB agents that form the core of treatment regimens are: isoniazid (INH) rifampin (RIF) ethambutol (EMB) pyrazinamide (PZA) TB Regimens for Drug-Susceptible TB.

How long does it take to cure drug resistant tuberculosis?

TB Regimens for Drug-Susceptible TB. Regimens for treating TB disease have an intensive phase of 2 months, followed by a continuation phase of either 4 or 7 months (total of 6 to 9 months for treatment).

What happens when TB bacteria become active?

When TB bacteria become active (multiplying in the body) and the immune system can’t stop the bacteria from growing, this is called TB disease. TB disease will make a person sick. People with TB disease may spread the bacteria to people with whom they spend many hours.

Why does TB require long term drug therapy?

MTB can exhibit genetic resistance that is heritable and fixed, as well as phenotypic, reversible resistance to administered antibiotics. The presence of genetic drug resistance in some or all of the infecting bacteria dictates the need for multidrug therapy [2,4].

How long do you need antibiotic treatment to cure tuberculosis?

For active tuberculosis, you must take antibiotics for at least six to nine months. The exact drugs and length of treatment depend on your age, overall health, possible drug resistance and where the infection is in your body.

Why have the antibiotics become less effective against tuberculosis?

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is intrinsically resistant to many antibiotics, limiting the number of compounds available for treatment. This intrinsic resistance is due to a number of mechanisms including a thick, waxy, hydrophobic cell envelope and the presence of drug degrading and modifying enzymes.

Can TB be cured in 3 months?

After taking TB medicine for several weeks, a doctor will be able to tell TB patients when they are no longer able to spread TB germs to others. Most people with TB disease will need to take TB medicine for at least 6 months to be cured.

What happens if I skip 1 week of TB treatment?

If you stop taking your TB medicine or skip doses, these things could happen: Your TB infection could come back. Your TB infection could turn into active TB disease. With active TB, you will have symptoms and feel sick and you can pass TB on to your friends and family.

How does TB become resistant to isoniazid?

The two main molecular mechanisms of isoniazid resistance are associated with gene mutations in katG and inhA or its promoter region. Indeed, numerous studies have found mutations in these two genes as the most commonly associated with isoniazid resistance [25,26].

Why is tuberculosis so difficult to treat explain?

If you have TB, you will need to take several drugs. This is because there are many bacteria to be killed. Taking multiple drugs also helps to prevent the bacteria from becoming drug resistant and, thus, much more difficult to cure. If you have TB of the lungs, or pulmonary TB, you are probably infectious.

What is the mechanism responsible for antibiotic resistance in M tuberculosis?

β-lactam antibiotics bind and inhibit the activities of penicillin-binding proteins involved in cell wall biosynthesis, but mycobacteria possess β-lactamase enzymes that degrade these drugs. This is the main mechanism conferring resistance to β-lactam antibiotics.

Why is it important to get a new flu shot every year?

Why is it important to get a new flu vaccine every year? -Every season, the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase proteins on the viral envelope of influenza are subject to slight changes by mutation, allowing evasion of the immune system. -The immune system fails to generate memory B cells when inoculated with this vaccine.

What are the benefits of adding vitamins and minerals to a diet?

The added vitamins and minerals can promote microbial growth.

What is the process of using organisms to clean up toxic, hazardous compounds by degrading them to less harmful substances?

Bioremediation is the process of using organisms to clean up toxic, hazardous compounds by degrading them to less harmful substances.

How long does it take to treat TB?

TB disease can be treated by taking several drugs for 6 to 9 months. There are 10 drugs currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating TB. Of the approved drugs, the first-line anti-TB agents that form the core of treatment regimens are: isoniazid (INH) rifampin (RIF)

What is it called when TB bacteria multiply?

When TB bacteria become active (multiplying in the body) and the immune system can’t stop the bacteria from growing, this is called TB disease. TB disease will make a person sick. People with TB disease may spread the bacteria to people with whom they spend many hours.

What is XDR TB?

Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR TB) is a rare type of MDR TB that is resistant to isoniazid and rifampin, plus any fluoroquinolone and at least one of three injectable second-line drugs (i.e., amikacin, kanamycin, or capreomycin). Treating and curing drug-resistant TB is complicated.

What is drug resistant TB?

Drug-resistant TB is caused by TB bacteria that are resistant to at least one first-line anti-TB drug. Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR TB) is resistant to more than one anti-TB drug and at least isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (RIF).

How is treatment completion determined?

Treatment completion is determined by the number of doses ingested over a given period of time.

How long does pyrazinamide last?

pyrazinamide (PZA) TB Regimens for Drug-Susceptible TB. Regimens for treating TB disease have an intensive phase of 2 months, followed by a continuation phase of either 4 or 7 months (total of 6 to 9 months for treatment). Drug Susceptible TB Disease Treatment Regimens. Regimens for treating TB disease have an intensive phase of 2 months, ...

Can TB be treated?

It is very important that people who have TB disease are treated, finish the medicine, and take the drugs exactly as prescribed. If they stop taking the drugs too soon, they can become sick again; if they do not take the drugs correctly, the TB bacteria that are still alive may become resistant to those drugs.

Why is otitis media more common in adults than children?

Otitis media is more common in adults than children because of differences in the anatomy of the head.

What is a diffuse rash?

A diffuse rash is the major sign of diphtheria.

What state do bacteria go into?

The bacteria go into a dormant state.

Is streptococci catalase positive?

Pathogenic streptococci will be catalase positive, while others will not.

Is streptococci beta hemolytic?

Pathogenic streptococci will be beta-hemolytic, while others will not.

Can viruses infect both the upper and lower respiratory tracts?

The viruses can infect both the upper and lower respiratory tracts.

Does the immune system respond to cold viruses?

Our immune system does not respond to cold viruses.

What is the classification of bacteria?

Bacteria are classified as Gram-positive or Gram-negative based on whether or not they retain the crystal violet dye used in the Gram stain procedure. Cell wall structure determines the ability to retain the dye, thus cell wall structure is the basis of categorization into Gram-positive (G+) and Gram-negative (G-).

Where is Streptococcus pneumoniae found?

Streptococcus pneumoniae is found as part of the normal microbiota of the mouth and pharynx and yet can cause disease in some people when it is inhaled into lungs. Why do you think this is?

Which antibiotics are effective against Streptococcus pneumoniae?

Beta lactam antibiotics are effective against Streptococcus pneumoniae because it is a Gram positive organism and does not have an outer membrane.

What is Gram negative?

Gram-negative bacteria are responsible for the majority of Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI's, also known as nosocomial infections). Serious disease may result when Gram-negative bacteria establish opportunistic infection of nearly all body systems. These HAI's have several signs in common. The signs of opportunistic HAI's with Gram-negative ...

Why do Gram negative bacteria stain pink?

The lack of a thick Cell wall causes Gram-negative bacteria to stain pink, in contrast with Gram-positive bacteria staining purple. Porin(s) allow monosaccharides to move across the membrane. Periplasm contains water, nutrients, and enzymes necessary for bacterial survival.

What is the acute response to microbial invasion?

Acute inflammation is an initial, nearly immediate response to microbial invasion. The acute inflammatory response can be beneficial and is frequently successful in containing and defeating bacterial infection.

What does the prefix "di" mean?

The prefix "di-" means two, and these organisms are usually found in pairs under the microscope.

What is the treatment for Shelly's infection?

Dr. Simpson prescribes a course of penicillin to treat Shelly's infection.

What is the second throat swab used for?

The second throat swab that Dr. Simpson takes will be used to culture the organism and confirm its identity. One part of this analysis will be completing a Gram stain of the cultured organism.

Does penicillin weaken the cell wall?

Penicillin will interfere with peptidoglycan synthesis, ultimately weakening the cell wall and leading to cellular lysis.

Is S. pyogenes a Gram positive or negative?

S. pyogenes is a gram-positive bacterium. Gram-positive bacteria have structural differences that distinguish them from gram-negative organisms. Of particular interest to this case is the fact that these differences in structure can be exploited during treatment.

Does penicillin affect Shelly's cells?

The penicillin will not have any impact on Shelly's cells because it targets peptidoglycan, which is found only in bacteria.

Which antibiotics are effective against Streptococcus pneumoniae?

C. Beta lactam antibiotics are effective against Streptococcus pneumoniae because it is a Gram negative organism and does not have an outer membrane.

What are the cell walls of Gram-positive bacteria?

A. Gram-positive bacteria have cell walls made up of peptidoglycan, while mycoplasmas have glucan in their cell walls.

What breaks down blood clots in which bacteria hide, releasing them so they can spread to other parts of?

D. Coagulase breaks down blood clots in which bacteria hide, releasing them so they can spread to other parts of the body.

What are reproductive structures that produce numerous offspring for a bacterium?

B. Endospores are reproductive structures that produce numerous offspring for a bacterium.

Where is Streptococcus pneumoniae found?

Streptococcus pneumoniae is found as part of the normal microbiota of the mouth and pharynx and yet can cause disease in some people when it is inhaled into lungs. Why do you think this is?

What does the prefix "di" mean?

A. The prefix "di- "means two and on agar plates, the colonies are found in groups of two.

Can Streptococcus pneumoniae migrate to other areas of the body?

B. Streptococcus pneumoniae cannot migrate from the nasopharynx to other areas of the body without a capsule.

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