Anthrax

Carson Penick

H.S. Boys Health

Mr. Surls

January 2010
I. Introduction/Overview/ Definition

II. Discovery and History

III. Symptoms

a. Cutaneous

b. Inhalation

c. Gastrointestinal

IV. Treatment

a. Antibiotics

b. Length of Treatment

V. Causes

a. How it is spread

b. Who is most at risk

VI. Tests and Diagnosis

a. Skin test for bacteria that causes

b. Chest X-ray

VII. Prognosis

a. Percent of unreported cases

b. Percent of Death

VIII. Prevention

a. Preventative antibiotics

b. Vaccines

IX. Terrorism uses

a. Postal Outbreak
 X. Conclusion

Anthrax is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium known as Bacillus

Anthracis. Anthrax comes from the Greek word anthrax, which means coal,

pertaining to the black, coal colored scabs that form with cutaneous anthrax.

Human infection is often topical, within the lungs, or inside the gastrointestinal

tract. There are three main types of anthrax: cutaneous, inhalation, or

gastrointestinal.

, Bacillus Anthracis, the bacterium that causes anthrax was discovered and

identified in 1875 by a German physician, Robert Koch. He was one of the first

scientists to demonstrate that diseases were caused by microbes. In a series of

experiments, he discovered both the life cycle and thee way of transmissions of

the anthrax bacteria. In May 1881, Louis Pasteur conducted an experiment in

public in which he separated two groups of 25 sheep, several goats, and one

cow each. He injected an anti-anthrax vaccine into one group and let the others

remain. 30 days later, he injected live anthrax cultures into both groups. Shortly

thereafter, every animal in the unvaccinated group died, while every animal in

the vaccinated group lived.

Symptoms of Anthrax vary depending on which type of anthrax one has

contracted. Cutaneous anthrax victims will suffer from blister or ulcers that will
form black scabs, generally surrounded by a great bit of swelling. Inhalation

anthrax shows symptoms such as fever, malaise, headaches, coughing,

shortness of breath, and chest pain. In the second stage, symptoms include

shock and even death. Someone who suffers from gastrointestinal anthrax may

experience nausea, vomiting, blood heavy vomiting, anorexia, or bloody

diarrhea.

.Most people who have contracted anthrax diseases can be treated with

antibiotic therapy. Some antibiotics that are effective include penicillin,

doxycycline, and ciproflaxin. If a patient suffers from inhalation anthrax, a doctor

would recommend a blend of different antibiotics, such as a combination of

intravenous cipro plus another drug. Cutaneous anthrax is treated with an oral

dose of antibiotics. The length of treatment is close to sixty days before the

anthrax has been fought off.

Anthrax is commonly carried by hoofed animals such as sheep or goats, but

humans who come into close contact risk catching anthrax as well. People who

are most at risk for anthrax include farm workers, veterinarians, tannery workers,

and wool workers.

 If someone suspects they have come into contact with anthrax, there are two

tests depending on which type of anthrax is suspected. If they suspect that they

have cutaneous anthrax, that all they need to do is have a bit of their skin cut off

and cultured to test for the bacteria that causes anthrax. If inhalation anthrax is

suspected, they may need an x-ray, blood cultures, sputum cultures, a spinal tap

for CSF culture, or a gram stain. Samples are then sent to a special laboratory

where more testing takes place including PCR, immunoflourescence, and

immunohistochemistry.

When treated with antibiotics, cutaneous anthrax is almost sure to get better.

However, twenty percent of those who contract it and do not get treated will more

than likely die due to anthrax related complications. People who get to the

second stage of inhalation anthrax have a very poor future ahead of them. Even

with antibiotic therapy, up to ninety percent of cases in the second stage result in

death. The prognosis of gastrointestinal anthrax is also poor. Many people die

from this form of the disease each year, although we do not know how many

since it is often unnoticed as a form of anthrax.

There are two main ways to prevent anthrax. For those who have already

been exposed to anthrax but are not showing symptoms, doctors may prescribe
some preventative antibiotics such as cipro, penicillin, or doxycycline, depending

on which strain of anthrax is suspected. There is also an anthrax vaccine, but it

is only available to select military personnel, not to the general public. It is given

in a series of six doses. There is no known way for anthrax to spread from one

human to another, therefore, if your brother whom you live with has been

exposed to cutaneous anthrax, you need not be worried that you will get it.

In 2001, anthrax was used as a bio-terrorism weapon in the United States

when Bruce Ivins sent cutaneous anthrax to at least twenty-two people’s houses.

Only five were killed, but seven survivors were tested and proven to have

cutaneous anthrax exposure. Years later, the case has only just recently closed

in a multi million dollar settlement because Ivins had committed suicide while

under investigation in 2002.

In America, we have little to fear of anthrax because it is incredibly rare. We

have only one record of gastrointestinal anthrax in the United States, reported in

1942. Anthrax is taken very seriously in hospitals in order to prevent it from

spreading.