ANTHRAX: the DISEASE

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ANTHRAX the DISEASE
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Learning Objectives

• Describe anthrax and the agent responsible for
  this disease
• Discuss the use of anthrax as a biological weapon
  
• List three (3) forms of the disease
• Describe the symptoms of inhalation anthrax
• Describe the treatment, mortality rate and
  post-exposure prophylaxis of anthrax

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Anthrax

• What is anthrax?
• A rapidly progressing, acute bacterial infection
• Causative agent - Bacillus anthracis, a
  gram-positive spore

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Characteristics of a biological threat

• Weaponized anthrax is difficult to detect
  (colorless, odorless and tasteless)
• Extremely stable and can be stored almost
  indefinitely as a dry powder
• Short incubation period (When inhaled, can cause
  respiratory failure and death within one week.)

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Forms of Anthrax

• Cutaneous (skin) anthrax
• Gastrointestinal anthrax
• Pulmonary or inhalation anthrax

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Cutaneous Anthrax

• Most common form
• Has various sources of transmission
• Contracted through a break in the skin

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Symptoms of Cutaneous Anthrax

• Erythematous papule
• Vesicle with black center
• Necrotic eschar
• Can have viral-like symptoms

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Gastrointestinal Anthrax

• Contracted by eating infected meat
• Anthrax spores can live for long periods in the
  ground and water supply
• Vaccinating livestock can reduce risk

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Symptoms of Gastrointestinal Anthrax

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Abdominal pain

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Pulmonary or Inhalation Anthrax

• Most deadly form
• Inhaled spores migrate to lymph nodes bacteria
  multiply and produce toxins
• Short incubation period 1-6 days

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Symptoms of Inhalation Anthrax

• Starts as a viral-like syndrome
• joint and muscle pains
• fever, malaise, fatigue, headache
• cough, mild chest discomfort, dyspnea
• congestion of nose, throat and larynx
• Rapidly progresses to
• respiratory distress, hemorrhagic meningitis or
  mediastinitis

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Mortality Rate

• Cutaneous - lt 20
• GI - gt 50
• Inhalation - 99
• in untreated individuals

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Post- Exposure Prophylaxis

• Antibiotics- Start within 24 hours of exposure
• - Ciprofloxacin 500 mg po BID -
  Doxycycline 100 mg po BID
• Most effective when combined with vaccination
• Antibiotics are indicated even when fully
  immunized

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Treatment for Inhalation Anthrax

• Early IV antibiotics
• Intensive care

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• Name the causitive agent for anthrax
• Bacillus anthracis
• Name 3 forms of the disease
• 1. Cutaneous
• 2. Gastrointestinal
• Inhalation or pulmonary
• What makes anthrax an optimal weapon for
  bioterrorists? (3)
• Difficult to detect
• Stable
• Short incubation period