Question

Drug of choice for the diphtheria carrier state is?

• A. Penicillin
• B. Antitoxin
• C. Penicillin or erythromycin
• D. Ciprofloxacin

Hint:

Carrier eradication needs an antibiotic, and two agents are acceptable - pick the option that lists both.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: In the carrier of diphtheria the bacterium colonises the pharynx but is not producing clinical illness, so the goal of treatment is bacterial eradication rather than toxin neutralisation.
Step 2: Standard public-health protocols clear the carrier with antibiotics: a single dose of benzathine penicillin G or a 7 to 10 day course of oral erythromycin, with close surveillance of contacts.
Step 3: Antitoxin is reserved for symptomatic disease to mop up circulating toxin, and fluoroquinolones such as ciprofloxacin are not the recommended choice, so they are excluded.
Step 4: Since both penicillin and erythromycin are valid, the most complete answer is the combined option penicillin or erythromycin.
\[\boxed{\text{Penicillin or erythromycin}}\]