Final answer:
For patients beginning TB treatment, their adherence to the prescribed antibiotic regimen, confirming TB infection with a chest radiograph, and completing the full course of therapy to prevent resistance are crucial.
Step-by-step explanation:
When beginning treatment for tuberculosis (TB), it is essential to monitor a patient for adherence to their prescribed medication regimen to prevent the development of drug-resistant strains of the disease. A Mantoux tuberculin skin test can be used to screen for TB exposure, although a chest radiograph is necessary to confirm infection due to the potential for false-positive results from prior BCG vaccinations. The treatment protocol for TB often includes a combination of antibiotics like isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide, which must be taken as directed for 6 months to a year to ensure efficacy and prevent recurrence and resistance. It is critical to follow through with the complete course of therapy, even after symptoms have subsided, to achieve full eradication of the infection and prevent the spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR-TB) strains.