Oral penicillin is the treatment for exposure to which biological agent?

• A. Anthrax
• B. Botulism
• C. Plague
• D. Smallpox

Answer: (A)

Exposure to Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium that causes anthrax, is treated with antibiotics to prevent bacterial growth and toxin production. Oral penicillin can be effective against susceptible strains, making it a reasonable option for post-exposure prophylaxis or mild disease. In clinical practice, guidelines often favor ciprofloxacin or doxycycline for post-exposure prophylaxis due to broader coverage and resistance considerations, and more aggressive IV antibiotics are used for established inhalational cases, sometimes with antitoxins.

Other agents listed do not fit because their primary treatments differ: botulism is managed with antitoxin and supportive care rather than antibiotics; plague is treated with other antibiotics such as streptomycin, gentamicin, or doxycycline; smallpox is addressed with vaccination and supportive care rather than antibiotics.