Streptococcal Infections in Adolescents and Adults after Prolonged Freedom from Rheumatic Fever

IT is now generally accepted practice to administer antibiotics continuously to patients with recent rheumatic fever to prevent streptococcal infections and subsequent reactivation of rheumatic fever. The duration for which such regimens should be maintained, however, is problematic. Current recommendations call for maintenance of continuous prophylaxis indefinitely, or until further data are available.1 , 2 The rate of recurrences is believed to decline during late adolescence and to be low in adult life, particularly after many years of freedom from rheumatic fever.3 4 5 The risk of discontinuing prophylaxis is difficult to assess, however, because very little information is available concerning the frequency and . . .