Which antibiotic is commonly used for rheumatic fever prophylaxis?

Which antibiotic is commonly used for rheumatic fever prophylaxis?

• A. Penicillin
• B. Amoxicillin
• C. Erythromycin
• D. Cephalexin

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is to prevent recurrent group A Streptococcus infections, because repeated GAS infections can trigger or worsen rheumatic fever and damage the heart. Penicillin is the standard choice for prophylaxis because it reliably kills GAS, and the long-acting form (benzathine penicillin G) given by injection every few weeks provides continuous protection with minimal dosing, which is why it’s routinely used for long-term secondary prophylaxis. If someone cannot take penicillin, erythromycin is the appropriate alternative. Amoxicillin is useful for treating GAS pharyngitis but is not the preferred long-term prophylaxis because it isn’t administered in a long-acting, protective schedule. Cephalexin isn’t the standard choice for rheumatic fever prophylaxis due to less proven efficacy for this purpose and considerations in penicillin-allergic patients.

The main idea here is to prevent recurrent group A Streptococcus infections, because repeated GAS infections can trigger or worsen rheumatic fever and damage the heart. Penicillin is the standard choice for prophylaxis because it reliably kills GAS, and the long-acting form (benzathine penicillin G) given by injection every few weeks provides continuous protection with minimal dosing, which is why it’s routinely used for long-term secondary prophylaxis. If someone cannot take penicillin, erythromycin is the appropriate alternative. Amoxicillin is useful for treating GAS pharyngitis but is not the preferred long-term prophylaxis because it isn’t administered in a long-acting, protective schedule. Cephalexin isn’t the standard choice for rheumatic fever prophylaxis due to less proven efficacy for this purpose and considerations in penicillin-allergic patients.