Rheumatic fever follows an infection with which organism?

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Multiple Choice

Rheumatic fever follows an infection with which organism?

Rheumatic fever is a post-infectious inflammatory complication that follows infection with group A Streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes), typically after a strep throat. The immune response to this streptococcal bacteria can cross-react with heart, joint, and nervous tissue due to molecular mimicry, leading to pancarditis and migratory arthritis, among other signs. This autoimmune link is specific to the streptococcal infection and is not a recognized consequence of infections with the other organisms listed, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, or Pseudomonas.

Rheumatic fever is a post-infectious inflammatory complication that follows infection with group A Streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes), typically after a strep throat. The immune response to this streptococcal bacteria can cross-react with heart, joint, and nervous tissue due to molecular mimicry, leading to pancarditis and migratory arthritis, among other signs. This autoimmune link is specific to the streptococcal infection and is not a recognized consequence of infections with the other organisms listed, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, or Pseudomonas.

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