A patient comes to a clinic for tuberculosis medications 2 weeks after beginning treatment with a four-drug induction phase. The patient's sputum culture remains positive, and no drug resistance is noted. At this point, the nurse will expect the provider to:

Question

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In patients with positive pretreatment sputum test results, sputum should be evaluated every 2 to 4 weeks until cultures are negative and then monthly thereafter. In the absence of drug resistance, treatment with the same regimen should continue. Sputum cultures should become negative in over 90% of patients in 3 or more months. The induction phase should last 2 months, so this patient should remain on a four-drug regimen. It is not necessary to order a chest radiograph or to add another drug at this stage of treatment. The patient is stable and has not developed symptoms that cause concern, so the patient does not need to be questioned about adherence.

A Patient Comes to a Clinic for Tuberculosis Medications 2