What medication class is often used for prophylaxis against infection in endoscopic procedures?

Antibiotics are commonly used for prophylaxis against infection in endoscopic procedures due to their effectiveness in preventing bacteria from proliferating and causing infections post-procedure. In the context of flexible endoscopy, where there is a risk of introducing bacteria into the bloodstream or surrounding tissues during the procedure, antibiotics play a crucial role in minimizing this risk.

While antivirals target viral infections and are not typically applicable in this scenario, analgesics serve to manage pain but do not have an antibiotic effect. Antihistamines are primarily used to alleviate allergy symptoms and certain types of reactions and have no relevance in preventing infections during endoscopic procedures. Therefore, antibiotics are the class of medication that is appropriately selected for prophylaxis in this context.