Which respiratory disease may make patients more susceptible to infection and often requires daily antibiotics?

• A. Cystic Fibrosis
• B. Asthma
• C. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• D. Pneumonia

Answer: (A)

The main concept here is how certain conditions create a lung environment that favors ongoing infections and how that influences treatment. Cystic fibrosis causes thick, sticky mucus to accumulate in the airways because of a faulty CFTR channel. This mucus is hard to clear, which traps bacteria and leads to repeated lung infections and chronic inflammation. Because bacteria—especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa—tend to continuously colonize the airways in CF, many patients end up on long-term, daily antibiotic regimens to suppress these infections, reduce exacerbations, and preserve lung function.

Asthma involves airway inflammation and hyperreactivity but not a pattern of chronic bacterial infection requiring daily antibiotics. COPD can have infections, but antibiotics are typically used during acute exacerbations rather than as daily maintenance. Pneumonia is an acute infection treated with antibiotics for a defined course, not a chronic daily strategy. Hence, cystic fibrosis best fits the description of a respiratory disease that increases infection susceptibility and often requires daily antibiotics.