Stay Awesome
ANTHRAX
Find most of the information you need in these resources
Always refer to your local signed PGD's in practice, and remember the Green Book takes priority over the SPmC - and sometimes WHO takes priority over the Green Book! They don't always say the same!
Other useful links and further reading:
BNF guidance for Anthrax treatment
Anthrax: guidance, data and analysis. The diagnosis, management, and vaccination of anthrax (not updated since Sept 2008! Probably indicative of good news there!)
Recent Updates & News
FEB 2017 Green book last updated. I'm taking this as a GOOD sign.
From the Green Book: Sporadic outbreaks of severe anthrax infection have occurred among drug users following injection of heroin contaminated with spores (Scottish Drugs Forum, 2013), and isolated cases of inhalational anthrax have been reported in individuals making drums with imported animal skins (Anaraki et al, 2008; Pullan et al, 2015). Anthrax spores have been released deliberately as biological weapons in the USA (Plotkin, Orenstein and Offit, 2013).
Bits and bobs to casually drop into conversation
Did you know according to the Green Book....
Anthrax is a bacterial disease which primarily affects herbivorous animals, although all mammals are susceptible to infection. In humans, anthrax can affect the skin and, rarely, the respiratory or gastro-intestinal tracts. It is caused by the aerobic bacillus, Bacillus anthracis, and is spread by spores.
Spores can be found in animal products such as wool, hair, hides, skins, bones and bone meal, and in the carcasses of infected animals. The spores can also contaminate soil and may survive for many years.
Anthrax can be treated effectively with antibiotics if identified early. If untreated, the infection can cause septicaemia, toxaemia or meningitis, and is fatal in around 5% of cases. However, from 4 October to 20 November, 2001, 22 cases of anthrax (11 inhalational, 11 cutaneous) were identified in the US; 5 of the inhalational cases were fatal. Twenty (91%) case-patients were either mail handlers or were exposed to worksites where contaminated mail was processed or received.
In the UK, human anthrax is rare, and was historically almost entirely an occupational disease affecting those handling imported infected animal products or working with infected animals.
Prevention depends on controlling anthrax in livestock and on disinfecting, washing and scouring imported animal products. Processing of hides, wool and bone by tanning, dyeing, carbonising or acid treatment also reduces the risk of infection.
Cutaneous Anthrax lesion. In Greek Anthrax means 'coal' - named after it's black appearance. See more pictures by clicking the photo which will also take you to the source of this photo. Thankyou for the pics immunize.org!!
