A patient who has completed the first phase of a three-drug regimen for tuberculosis has a positive sputum acid-bacilli test. The nurse will tell the patient that:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

It may take several weeks before the sputum acid-bacilli test becomes negative, even if the patient is responding to the treatment. Therefore, the nurse should reassure the patient that this is a normal occurrence and encourage them to continue with the treatment plan. Option A is incorrect because drug resistance cannot be determined based on one positive test result. Option C is incorrect because changing the medication regimen should only be done under the direction of a healthcare provider. Option D is incorrect because remaining in the first phase of therapy for an extended period of time is not necessary unless there are other issues with the treatment response.

A Patient Who Has Completed the First Phase of a Three-Drug