# Anthrax --- **Anthrax** Bacillus anthracis is a gram-positive bacillus which forms a spore that is resistant to light, heat, desiccation, and many disinfectants.  Spores become virulent (can have really harmful effects) once they are introduced to a human or animal.   Humans usually contract anthrax accidentally through contact with infected animals, meat, or the hides of animals that contain the spores. Anthrax infection can be gastrointestinal (from ingestion), cutaneous (from contact with skin), or inhalational (from being inhaled). Cutaneous infection often presents with large, painless, necrotic ulcers (initially presents as a pruritic skin lesion or blister that is dark – it looks like a black dot) at the site of infection. Skin infections generally form within a week or two after exposure. Ingestion – fever, & GI s/s - N/V/abd pain, bloody diarrhea, sometimes ascites. If severe diarrhea – FVD is biggest concern, so IVF must be given; sepsis can occur; germ targets terminal ileum & cecum Inhalation – most severe; mimics flu, then second stage of severe respiratory distress occurs; current ABX do not halt progress of disease; can incubate up to 60 days. Hemorrhagic mediastinitis (basically this is a pulmonary hemorrhage) shows up in about 50% of people – this is an ominous sign.  Once severe respiratory s/s occur, mortality rate approaches 100%. Death occurs 24-36 hours after onset of severe resp distress. Just to give you an idea about how a little goes a long way with anthrax, 1 gram = 1 sugar packet– 1 trillion spores- enough to kill 10 million people with the proper dispersal device! •Standard precautions: not transmissible from person to person ## Risk Factors/Cause ## Signs & Symptoms The signs and symptoms of anthrax •Signs and symptoms •Ingestion: N/V, fever, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea •Skin Contact: edema, prutitis, & ulceration at site •Inhaled: flu-like symptoms, progressing to respiratory distress & hemorrhagic mediastinitis ## Complications/Comorbidities ## Diagnostic Tests ## Treatment Treatment for anthrax consists of Treatment: PCN (for now it’s still sensitive but resistant strains are thought to exist), ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin & doxycycline within 24 hours after exposure to prevent death. - [[antibiotics|Ciprofloxacin]] - [[levofloxacin]] - [[doxycycline]] •Nursing care •Supportive care •Antibiotics •Standard precautions •RC: hemorrhage, sepsis •T x: penicillin, cipro, levofloxacin, doxycycline ## Nursing Considerations ___