A 33-year-old HIV-positive woman with a CD4 count of 75 presents with oral thrush. What prophylactic therapy should she receive?

The most appropriate prophylactic therapy for this patient is Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole due to her significantly low CD4 count, which places her at increased risk for opportunistic infections, specifically Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP).

In individuals with HIV, a CD4 count below 200 cells/mm³ indicates a higher vulnerability to various infections. Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole is recommended for prophylaxis against PCP in these patients. It acts effectively to prevent this common bacterial pneumonia, which can be life-threatening for those with compromised immune systems, such as this woman.

Oral thrush indicates candidiasis, which is also common in individuals with low CD4 counts, but the question specifically pertains to prophylactic therapy. While azithromycin can be used for other infections, it is not indicated for PCP prophylaxis. Rifampin and amoxicillin do not provide the targeted prophylaxis needed for an HIV-positive patient at this stage of immune deficiency, as they either target bacteria or are not effective against the risks associated with opportunistic infections seen in HIV patients. Therefore, the focus here is on preventing PCP, which firmly supports the use of Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole as a