Mycobacterium avium complex

Missing doses or failing to take medications as prescribed is a well-recognized problem: in particular, when several medications with differing dosing schedules and side effects are prescribed together. However, failing to take medications as prescribed can lead to two serious consequences for the patient. First, the level of the medications in the body is so low that these drugs will not have the desired effect. Second, when faced with inadequate concentrations of drugs, bacteria and viruses find it easy to develop resistance to these drugs. This resistance does not affect only the drugs the patient is taking at the moment but may also affect other drugs that could be used to treat the disease in the future. Both of these consequences result in treatment failure. Successfully adhering to treatment regimens by taking the correct dose of medications at the correct time every day is most important in controlling disease.

Patients with Mycobacterium avium complex hypersensitivity pneumonitis are advised to avoid hot tubs.