The Nurse Is Giving Parents Discharge Instructions for the Care

The nurse is giving parents discharge instructions for the care of their child with sickle cell anemia. The nurse explains that the child will be maintained on prophylactic oral penicillin until age 5 and tells the parents that the rationale for this antibiotic is:

A) because of the increased risk for infection
B) to prevent the destruction of red blood cells (RBCs)
C) to prevent vegetation on the mitral valve
D) antibiotics alter the shape of the sickle cell