Chemoprophylaxis Against Group A Streptococcus During Military Training

Abstract

Chemoprophylaxis with intramuscular benzathine penicillin G has been used widely by the U.S. military to prevent epidemics of group A streptococcus infections during basic training. The recent global shortage of benzathine penicillin prompted a detailed analysis of this issue in 2017 by military preventive medicine and infectious disease authorities in San Antonio, Texas, and San Diego, California, USA. This paper explores the history of group A streptococcus and chemoprophylaxis in the U.S. military training environment, current policy and practice, and challenges associated with widespread chemoprophylaxis. In light of the history presented, preventive medicine authorities at basic training centers should be extremely cautious about discontinuing benzathine penicillin chemoprophylaxis.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 26, 2018
Accession Number
AD1088292

Entities

People

  • Anthony W. Hawksworth
  • Brian K. White
  • Bryant Webber
  • Heather C. Yun
  • John W. Kieffer
  • Paul C. Graf

Organizations

  • United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Basic Training
  • California
  • Environment
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections
  • Health Services
  • Hygiene
  • Infection
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Medical Personnel
  • Microbiomes
  • Military Training
  • Preventive Medicine
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • East Asian Political and Security Studies within the Soviet Union
  • Immunology
  • Military Leadership and Professional Education.