Anthrax

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Antibodies

Cutaneous anthrax

Cutaneous Anthrax

Inhalation anthrax

Wool sorter's disease; Ragpicker's disease

There are two primary modes of prevention of anthrax.

For individuals who have been truly exposed to anthrax (but have no signs and symptoms of the disease), preventive antibiotics may be offered, such as ciprofloxacin, penicillin, or doxycycline, depending on the particular strain of anthrax.

An anthrax vaccine is available to selected military personnel, but not to the general public. It is given in a 6-dose series. There is no known transmission of cutaneous anthrax from person to person. Household contacts of individuals with cutaneous anthrax do not need antibiotics unless they have also been exposed to the same source of anthrax.

Reissman DB, Whitney EA, Taylor TH Jr, et al. One-Year Health Assessment of Adult Survivors of Bacillus anthracis Infection.JAMA. 2004;291:1994-1998.

Inglesby TV, O'Toole T, Henderson DA, et al. Anthrax as a Biological Weapon, 2002. JAMA.160;2002;287:2236-2252.

Review Date: 06/17/2005
Reviewed By: Rocio Hurtado, MD, Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.