A woman struggling with a bacterial illness is prescribed a month's supply of a potent antibiotic.She takes the antibiotic for about two weeks and feels much better.Should she save the remaining two- week supply,or should she continue taking the drug?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

It is important to take the full course of antibiotics as prescribed by the doctor, even if the patient feels better before the end of the treatment. This is because the antibiotic may have killed most of the bacteria causing the illness, but some may still be present and resistant to the drug. If the patient stops taking the antibiotic prematurely, the remaining bacteria can multiply and cause a relapse of the illness. In addition, this can contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can make it more difficult to treat infections in the future. Therefore, the woman should continue taking the drug until the prescribed course is completed.

A Woman Struggling with a Bacterial Illness Is Prescribed a Month's