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What is anthrax?
Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium
Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax most commonly occurs in warm-blooded
animals, but can also infect humans.
How common is anthrax and who can get it?
Anthrax is most common in agricultural regions where it occurs in animals. These
include South and Central America, Southern and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, the
Caribbean, and the Middle East. When anthrax affects humans, it is usually due to
an occupational exposure to infected animals or their products. Workers who are
exposed to dead animals and animal products from other countries where anthrax is
more common may become infected. Anthrax in animals rarely occurs in the United
States. Most reports of animal infection are received from Texas, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.
How is anthrax transmitted?
Anthrax infection can occur in three forms: cutaneous (skin), inhalation, and
gastrointestinal. Anthrax spores can live in the soil for many years and humans can
become infected with anthrax by handling animal products from infected animals or
by inhaling anthrax spores from contaminated animal products. Eating undercooked meat
from infected animals can also spread anthrax. It is rare to find infected animals in
the United States.
What are the symptoms of anthrax?
Anthrax organisms can cause infection in the skin, gastrointestinal system, or the
lungs. To do so, the anthrax must be rubbed into abraded skin, swallowed or inhaled. It
is not contagious, meaning it cannot be spread from one person to another person.
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Cutaneous: Most anthrax infections occur when bacterium enters a cut or skin
abrasion. The infection begins as a raised itchy bump that initially resembles an
insect bite. Within one to two days, it will develop into a boil-like lesion that
eventually forms an ulcer with a black spot in the center. The cutaneous form of
anthrax responds well to antibiotics if treatment is started soon after symtoms occur.
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Inhalation: Initial symptoms may resemble a common cold. After several days,
symptoms may progress to severe breathing problems and shock. Inhalation anthrax usually
results in death in one to two days after onset of the severe acute symptoms.
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Intestinal: The intestinal form of anthrax is characterized by an acute
inflammation of the intestinal tract. Initial signs of nausea, loss of appetite,
vomiting, fever are followed by abdominal pain, vomiting of blood and severe
diarrhea. Intestinal anthrax results in death in 25% to 60% of cases.
Can anthrax be spread from person to person?
Anthrax is not contagious. Direct person-to-person spread of anthrax most likely does not occur.
What is the treatment of anthrax?
Doctors can prescribe effective antibiotics. Penicillin is the drug of choice but there
are other effective drugs such as Doxycylcine, Tetracycline, Ciprofoxacin and
levofloxacin. To be effective, treatment should be initiated early. If left untreated,
the disease can be fatal.
How do you test for anthrax infection?
Because the symptoms of anthrax are so similar to those of the common flu, patients are
initially given a DFA test to determine if the infection is simply a more common viral
infection. Screening tests to detect for anthrax in people without symptoms should
only be done after highly suspicious exposures.
What sort of isolation does anthrax require?
Body Substance Isolation should be observed for patients diagnosed with anthrax. As
always, handwashing is the most important and easiest way to protect yourself and your
patient.
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