Anthrax

This page is a basic fact sheet about Anthrax.

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Characteristics
Symptoms
Cautions
First-aid and therapy
Neutralization and decontamination

Characteristics		Basic characteristics: causative organism: Bacillus anthracis produces highly resistant spores that may persist in the environment for decades infection possible by contact with animals or contaminated animal products or by inhalation of infected dust from hides, wool or similar substances aerosol dispersion is possible can readily be produced in large quantities virulent antibiotic-resistent strains have been produced

Symptoms

The incubation period is 2-5 days to 1-2 weeks depending on the magnitude of exposure.

Symptoms:

From dermal exposure: malignant pustule formation progressing to septicemia
From inhalation exposure: begins like any respiratory infection, progresses to acute respiratory distress, with toxemia and septicemia leading to fever and shock
case fatality rate: 20% (dermal); greater than 80% (inhalation, oral)

Cautions		Important precautions include: prophylaxis for emergency response personnel is oral ciprofloxacine (500mg twice daily) until they can be vaccinated anthrax is NOT transmitted from person to person, but precautions should be taken with drainage/secretions from the patient to prevent dermal infection of care-givers, and soiled articles should be disinfected by steam sterilization or burned. It may be advisable to isolate inhalation anthrax patients in a separate ward meat from livestock dying of anthrax will produce intestinal anthrax if eaten

First-aid and therapy		Antibiotics are moderately effective if disease is recognized early and treatment is prolonged (death can occur if antibiotic therapy is discontinued too early). Note that penicillin and tetracyclines may not be effective if the organism is resistant, so amoxycillin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin and gentamycin are preferred. Vaccines can confer good protection in small exposures, but the value is not known in heavy exposures; vaccine must be given during treatment, because spores may lie latent in the lungs, to germinate after treatment ends

Neutralization and decontamination

Exposed clothing should be burned. Exposed hair should be thoroughly shampooed. Exposed surfaces (equipment, vehicles) may be washed with 10% formaldehyde in water, chloride solution, 3% hydrogen peroxide or 3% peracetic acid - but avoid contaminating drains, sewers, ground water.

Food contamination would require prolonged sterilization to make all animal and food products safe.