A doctor prescribes a 5-day antibiotic course but a patient stops on day 3 after feeling better. Why is this risky?
AThe patient may become allergic to the antibiotic
BSurviving microbes may multiply and become resistant, making the antibiotic less effective in future infections
CIt violates the printed instructions but has no medical effect
DThe unused tablets will go to waste
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. Surviving microbes may multiply and become resistant, making the antibiotic less effective in future infections
An incomplete antibiotic course knocks down the bacterial population without killing the toughest cells. Those resistant survivors then multiply, and the next time someone is infected, the antibiotic may be useless. The chapter explicitly warns that 'antibiotics taken unnecessarily or in wrong doses may make the drug less effective when you might need it in future.'
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