Articles » Anthrax: DBMD

Anthrax: DBMD

Article title: Anthrax: DBMD

Conditions: anthrax, Cutaneous Anthrax, Intestinal Anthrax, Inhalation Anthrax

Source: DBMD

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Anthrax

   

Clinical Features	Human anthrax has three major clinical forms: cutaneous, inhalation, and gastrointestinal. Cutaneous anthrax is a result of introduction of the spore through the skin; inhalation anthrax, through the respiratory tract; and gastrointestinal anthrax, by ingestion.
Etiologic Agent	Bacillus anthracis, the etiologic agent of anthrax, is a large, gram-positive, nonmotile, spore-forming bacterial rod. The three virulence factors of B. anthracis are edema toxin, lethal toxin and a capsular antigen.
Incidence	In the United States, incidence of naturally acquired anthrax is extremely low. Gastrointestinal anthrax is rare but may occur as explosive outbreaks associated with ingestion of infected animals. Worldwide, the incidence is unknown, though B. anthracis is present in most of the world.
Sequelae	If untreated, anthrax in all forms can lead to septicemia and death. Early treatment of cutaneous anthrax is usually curative, and early treatment of all forms is important for recovery. Patients with gastrointestinal anthrax have reported case- fatality rates ranging from 25% to 75%. Case-fatality rates for inhalational anthrax are thought to approach 90 to 100%.
Transmission	For humans, the source of infection in naturally acquired disease is infected livestock and wild animals or contaminated animal products. Human-to-human transmission is extremely unlikely and only reported with cutaneous anthrax.
Risk Groups	Cutaneous anthrax is the most common manifestation of naturally acquired infection with B. anthracis. Inhalation (pulmonary) anthrax occurs in persons working in certain occupations where spores may be forced into the air from contaminated animal products, such as animal hair processing. Occupational risk groups include those coming into contact with livestock or products from livestock, e.g., veterinarians, animal handlers, abattoir workers, and laboratorians.
Surveillance	For both livestock and humans, anthrax is a notifiable disease in the United States.
Trends	Among humans, there has been no increase in naturally acquired infection in the United States. Recently, considerable attention has been focused on the potential for B. anthracis to be used in acts of biologic terrorism.
Challenges	Because B. anthracis has a high probability for use as an agent in biologic terrorism, CDC expanded its epidemiologic and diagnostic laboratory capacities and technologies.
	December 2001

 
 
 

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