Which statement best distinguishes acute rheumatic fever from infective endocarditis?

• A. Rheumatic fever involves bacterial colonization of a valve with vegetation
• B. Infective endocarditis is an antibody-mediated immune response to a streptococcal infection
• C. Rheumatic fever is an antibody-mediated immune response to streptococcal infection, whereas infective endocarditis involves bacterial colonization and vegetation
• D. Both conditions are noninfectious inflammatory processes

Answer: (C)