What is the effect of poor adherence to INH treatment?

Poor adherence to isoniazid (INH) treatment can lead to significant public health concerns, particularly in the context of tuberculosis (TB) management. When patients do not consistently take their medication as prescribed, it can result in incomplete treatment of the bacterial infection. This incomplete treatment can contribute to two major issues.

Firstly, inadequate adherence can allow the bacteria to survive and continue replicating, leading to an increase in the transmission of TB within the community. As individuals with untreated or poorly managed TB continue to cough and interact with others, they pose a higher risk of spreading the infection.

Secondly, poor adherence significantly raises the risk of developing drug-resistant strains of TB. When the medication is not taken consistently or for the full prescribed duration, some bacteria may not be fully killed off, providing a breeding ground for resistant strains. These resistant strains are more challenging to treat and can require more complex and expensive treatment regimens, further complicating TB control efforts.

Thus, the correct choice highlights that poor adherence to INH treatment not only jeopardizes the individual patient's health but also poses broader risks to public health through increased transmission and the potential development of drug-resistant TB.