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Anthrax infection

MedGen UID:
8110
•Concept ID:
C0003175
•
Disease or Syndrome
Synonyms: Anthrax; Black Baine; Malignant edema; Malignant pustule; Ragpicker's disease; Siberian Plague; Wool sorter's disease
SNOMED CT: Anthrax (409498004); Milzbrand (409498004); Infection due to Bacillus anthracis (409498004); Splenic fever (409498004); Charbon (409498004)
 
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0005119

Definition

An infection caused by Bacillus anthracis bacteria. It may affect the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, or skin. Patients with lung infection present with fever, headaches, cough, chest pain and shortness of breath. Patients with gastrointestinal infection present with nausea, vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Patients with skin infection develop blisters and ulcers. [from NCI]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVAnthrax infection

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Antitoxin Use in the Prevention and Treatment of Anthrax Disease: A Systematic Review.
Hesse EM, Godfred-Cato S, Bower WA
Clin Infect Dis 2022 Oct 17;75(Suppl 3):S432-S440. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciac532. PMID: 36251559Free PMC Article
Does anthrax antitoxin therapy have a role in the treatment of inhalational anthrax?
Vietri NJ
Curr Opin Infect Dis 2018 Jun;31(3):257-262. doi: 10.1097/QCO.0000000000000446. PMID: 29570493
The prophylaxis and treatment of anthrax.
Brook I
Int J Antimicrob Agents 2002 Nov;20(5):320-5. doi: 10.1016/s0924-8579(02)00200-5. PMID: 12431866

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Evaluation of clinical and serological findings for diagnosis of cutaneous anthrax infection after an outbreak.
Gulseren D, Süzük-Yıldız S, Çelebi B, Kılıç S
Cutan Ocul Toxicol 2017 Sep;36(3):289-293. Epub 2017 Feb 2 doi: 10.1080/15569527.2017.1281288. PMID: 28076993
Reversal of Newer Direct Oral Anticoagulant Drugs (DOACs).
Hussain SS, Tyroch AH, Mukherjee D
Cardiovasc Hematol Agents Med Chem 2017;14(2):76-81. doi: 10.2174/1871525714666160524144359. PMID: 27215215
Anthrax meningoencephalitis.
Lanska DJ
Neurology 2002 Aug 13;59(3):327-34. doi: 10.1212/wnl.59.3.327. PMID: 12177364
Anthrax as a biological weapon, 2002: updated recommendations for management.
Inglesby TV, O'Toole T, Henderson DA, Bartlett JG, Ascher MS, Eitzen E, Friedlander AM, Gerberding J, Hauer J, Hughes J, McDade J, Osterholm MT, Parker G, Perl TM, Russell PK, Tonat K; Working Group on Civilian Biodefense
JAMA 2002 May 1;287(17):2236-52. doi: 10.1001/jama.287.17.2236. PMID: 11980524
Anthrax: safe treatment for children.
Benavides S, Nahata MC
Ann Pharmacother 2002 Feb;36(2):334-7. doi: 10.1345/aph.1A424. PMID: 11847958

Diagnosis

Injectional anthrax in human: A new face of the old disease.
Zasada AA
Adv Clin Exp Med 2018 Apr;27(4):553-558. doi: 10.17219/acem/68380. PMID: 29533547
New insights into gastrointestinal anthrax infection.
Owen JL, Yang T, Mohamadzadeh M
Trends Mol Med 2015 Mar;21(3):154-63. Epub 2014 Dec 19 doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2014.12.003. PMID: 25577136Free PMC Article
Anthrax infection.
Sweeney DA, Hicks CW, Cui X, Li Y, Eichacker PQ
Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2011 Dec 15;184(12):1333-41. Epub 2011 Aug 18 doi: 10.1164/rccm.201102-0209CI. PMID: 21852539Free PMC Article
Public health and bioterrorism: renewed threat of anthrax and smallpox.
Wallin A, Luksiene Z, Zagminas K, Surkiene G
Medicina (Kaunas) 2007;43(4):278-84. PMID: 17485954
Anthrax meningoencephalitis.
Lanska DJ
Neurology 2002 Aug 13;59(3):327-34. doi: 10.1212/wnl.59.3.327. PMID: 12177364

Therapy

Does anthrax antitoxin therapy have a role in the treatment of inhalational anthrax?
Vietri NJ
Curr Opin Infect Dis 2018 Jun;31(3):257-262. doi: 10.1097/QCO.0000000000000446. PMID: 29570493
Injectional anthrax in human: A new face of the old disease.
Zasada AA
Adv Clin Exp Med 2018 Apr;27(4):553-558. doi: 10.17219/acem/68380. PMID: 29533547
Reversal of Newer Direct Oral Anticoagulant Drugs (DOACs).
Hussain SS, Tyroch AH, Mukherjee D
Cardiovasc Hematol Agents Med Chem 2017;14(2):76-81. doi: 10.2174/1871525714666160524144359. PMID: 27215215
Anthrax lethal factor inhibitors as potential countermeasure of the infection.
Kumar BV, Malik S, Grandhi P, Dayam R, Sarma JA
Curr Top Med Chem 2014;14(17):1977-89. doi: 10.2174/1568026614666140929120231. PMID: 25262802
Anthrax infection.
Sweeney DA, Hicks CW, Cui X, Li Y, Eichacker PQ
Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2011 Dec 15;184(12):1333-41. Epub 2011 Aug 18 doi: 10.1164/rccm.201102-0209CI. PMID: 21852539Free PMC Article

Prognosis

Does anthrax antitoxin therapy have a role in the treatment of inhalational anthrax?
Vietri NJ
Curr Opin Infect Dis 2018 Jun;31(3):257-262. doi: 10.1097/QCO.0000000000000446. PMID: 29570493
Anthrax lethal and edema toxins in anthrax pathogenesis.
Liu S, Moayeri M, Leppla SH
Trends Microbiol 2014 Jun;22(6):317-25. Epub 2014 Mar 27 doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2014.02.012. PMID: 24684968Free PMC Article
Anthrax lethal toxin and the induction of CD4 T cell immunity.
Ascough S, Ingram RJ, Altmann DM
Toxins (Basel) 2012 Oct;4(10):878-99. Epub 2012 Oct 19 doi: 10.3390/toxins4100878. PMID: 23162703Free PMC Article
Inhalational, gastrointestinal, and cutaneous anthrax in children: a systematic review of cases: 1900 to 2005.
Bravata DM, Holty JE, Wang E, Lewis R, Wise PH, McDonald KM, Owens DK
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2007 Sep;161(9):896-905. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.161.9.896. PMID: 17768291
Anthrax meningoencephalitis.
Lanska DJ
Neurology 2002 Aug 13;59(3):327-34. doi: 10.1212/wnl.59.3.327. PMID: 12177364

Clinical prediction guides

Genetic diversity of Bacillus anthracis Ames lineage strains in China.
Zhang E, Zhang H, He J, Li W, Wei J
BMC Infect Dis 2020 Feb 14;20(1):140. doi: 10.1186/s12879-020-4867-5. PMID: 32059712Free PMC Article
Anthrax lethal toxin and the induction of CD4 T cell immunity.
Ascough S, Ingram RJ, Altmann DM
Toxins (Basel) 2012 Oct;4(10):878-99. Epub 2012 Oct 19 doi: 10.3390/toxins4100878. PMID: 23162703Free PMC Article
A mathematical simulation of the inflammatory response to anthrax infection.
Kumar R, Chow CC, Bartels JD, Clermont G, Vodovotz Y
Shock 2008 Jan;29(1):104-11. doi: 10.1097/SHK.0b013e318067da56. PMID: 18157069Free PMC Article
Inhalational, gastrointestinal, and cutaneous anthrax in children: a systematic review of cases: 1900 to 2005.
Bravata DM, Holty JE, Wang E, Lewis R, Wise PH, McDonald KM, Owens DK
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2007 Sep;161(9):896-905. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.161.9.896. PMID: 17768291
Endemic gastrointestinal anthrax in 1960s Lebanon: clinical manifestations and surgical findings.
Kanafani ZA, Ghossain A, Sharara AI, Hatem JM, Kanj SS
Emerg Infect Dis 2003 May;9(5):520-5. doi: 10.3201/eid0905.020537. PMID: 12737733Free PMC Article

Recent systematic reviews

Antitoxin Use in the Prevention and Treatment of Anthrax Disease: A Systematic Review.
Hesse EM, Godfred-Cato S, Bower WA
Clin Infect Dis 2022 Oct 17;75(Suppl 3):S432-S440. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciac532. PMID: 36251559Free PMC Article
Inhalational, gastrointestinal, and cutaneous anthrax in children: a systematic review of cases: 1900 to 2005.
Bravata DM, Holty JE, Wang E, Lewis R, Wise PH, McDonald KM, Owens DK
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2007 Sep;161(9):896-905. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.161.9.896. PMID: 17768291
Anthrax: a systematic review of atypical presentations.
Holty JE, Kim RY, Bravata DM
Ann Emerg Med 2006 Aug;48(2):200-11. Epub 2006 Feb 21 doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2005.11.035. PMID: 16857469

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