Question

A 17-year-old Aboriginal woman from a remote Northern Territory community has known rheumatic heart disease with moderate mitral regurgitation following definite acute rheumatic fever at age 13. She is otherwise well and is not pregnant. There is concern that she sometimes misses her injections. According to Australian ARF/RHD guidelines, which secondary prophylaxis regimen is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Benzathine benzylpenicillin G IM every 28 days, continued for at least 10 years after the last ARF episode or until at least age 21, whichever is longer

Answer

Oral phenoxymethylpenicillin twice daily until age 18 only

Answer

Benzathine benzylpenicillin G IM every 3 months until symptoms resolve

Answer

No secondary prophylaxis is required once echocardiography shows stable disease

Answer

Erythromycin IM every 28 days indefinitely

Practice question