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BW Agents: Anthrax J.A. Sliman, MD, MPH LCDR MC(FS) USN Preventive Medicine Resident Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
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Anthrax Bacillus anthracis –Rod-shaped, gram-positive, sporulating Zoonotic disease of cattle, sheep, and horses Spores are stable and viable for years in soil and water
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BW History Easily stabilized = easily deliverable First weaponized by U.S. in early 1950s Weaponized by FSU and disseminated –Iraq (admitted in 1995) –Who else???
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BW Significance Easy to cultivate (induced sporulation) Spores are highly resistant to: –Heat, sunlight, most disinfectants Can be produced in wet or dry form –Can be disseminated in aerosol cloud or point source spray devices
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Human Disease Normally contracted by handling contaminated animal products or excreta Infection via cutaneous abrasions, inhalation, & ingestion
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Cutaneous anthrax Hands and forearms of livestock handlers Initial papule converts to fluid-filled vesicle Vesicle dries and forms a black scab –“anthrax” = Greek for “coal” Can disseminate and become fatal (CFR = 25%)
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Intestinal anthrax From ingesting undercooked meat from an infected animal Features are similar to other food poisonings Nearly 100% CFR
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Inhalational anthrax Likely form of BW attack Endemic form is known as “Woolsorters’ disease” Presents like atypical pneumonia –100% CFR if untreated
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Inhalational anthrax Incubation period = 1-6 days –Depends upon the strain and inhaled dose Gradual, nonspecific onset of fever, malaise, headache, fatigue, dry cough, pleuritic chest pain Often followed by 2-3 days of improvement
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Inhalational anthrax CXR may show widened mediastinum (55%) but no obvious infiltrates Gram stain usually (-) at this point Toxin & bacilli detectable in the bloodstream by day 3 post-exposure (along with elevated WBC count)
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Inhalational anthrax Improvement period followed by abrupt onset of severe acute respiratory distress Dyspnea, diaphoresis, stridor, cyanosis Death occurs within 36 hours of onset of respiratory distress
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Medical Management Nearly 100% fatal after onset of severe respiratory distress regardless of treatment PCN, tetracycline, erythromycin, Cipro –Cipro 400mg bid f4wks Supportive therapy for shock & airway management
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Medical Management Standard vaccine is available –3-shot regimen (0, 6, 12 months) Prophylactic therapy for likely exposures –Cipro 400mg bid f4wks –Vaccinate the previously unvaccinated –Give booster shot to those previously vaccinated
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Anthrax Flu or atypical pneumonia-like symptoms Widened mediastinum on CXR without infiltrates Cipro 400mg bid f4wks & vaccinate
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