CCDM: TOPIC ANTHRAX

Question 1

Describe Anthrax:

Answer 1

An acute bacterial disease that usually affects the

skin, but may rarely involve the oropharynx, mediastinum or intestinal tract.

Question 2

What are symptoms of cutaneous anthrax?

Answer 2

Itching of exposed skin surface occurs first,

followed by a lesion that becomes papular, then vesicular and in 2–6 days develops into a depressed black eschar.

Question 3

What are common sites of infection?

Answer 3

The head, forearms and hands

Question 4

What are the effects of untreated anthrax infections?

Answer 4

infections may spread to regional lymph nodes and the bloodstream with overwhelming septicaemia

Question 5

What is cutaneous anthrax has a case-fatality rate?

Answer 5

between 5% and 20%;

Question 6

What is the causative agent of anthrax?

Answer 6

Bacillus anthracis, a Gram-positive, encapsulated,

spore forming, nonmotile rod

Question 7

Human anthrax is endemic in which agricultural regions of the world?

Answer 7

Africa and Asia, south and central America, southern and eastern Europe.

Question 8

What are some important characteristics of B. anthracis spores?

Answer 8

resist adverse environmental conditions and disinfection, may remain viable in contaminated soil for years. Dormant anthrax spores may be passively redistributed in the soil and adjacent vegetation through the action of water, wind and other environmental forces.

Question 9

What is another way anthrax is redistributed?

Answer 9

Scavengers feeding on infected carcases

Question 10

Incubation period

Answer 10

1-7 Days and possibly up to 60days in some cases.

Question 11

Anthrax communicability?

Answer 11

Person to person transmission is rar.

Question 12

What is the preferred disposal technique of animals infected with anthrax spores?

Answer 12

Incineration at the site of death or bury at death site as deep as possible without digging below local water table leve.

Question 13

What is the specific treatment for Anthrax?

Answer 13

Penicillin is the drug of choice for cutaneous

anthrax and is given for 5–7 days.

Question 14

What other treatments can be given if penicillin can’t be given?

Answer 14

Tetracyclines, erythromycin and chloramphenicol are also effective.

Question 15

U.S. military recommends what treatment for inhalation anthrax?

Answer 15

parenteral ciprofloxacin or doxycycline

Question 16

How many injections does post exposure consists of?

Answer 16

3 Injections

Question 17

What are the immunization intervals after exposure to anthrax?

Answer 17

starting as soon as possible after exposure and at 2 and 4 weeks after exposure.

Question 18

What protocols must exposed personnel take?

Answer 18

Personnel should be decontaminated with soap and copious amounts of water in a shower. Bleach solutions are usually not required.

Question 19

What should 1:10 dilution of household bleach (final

hypochlorite concentration 0.5%) should be used?

Answer 19

if there is gross contamination with the agent and it is impossible to remove the materials through soap and water decontamination.

Question 20

How long is the bleach solution method used?

Answer 20

The bleach solution, to be used only after

soap and water decontamination, must be rinsed off after 10 to 15 minutes.

Question 21

What protocols must First Responders take before entering an anthrax contaminated area?

Answer 21

Donning splash protection, gloves and a full face respirator with high-efficiency particle air (HEPA) filters (Level C) or selfcontained breathing apparatus (SCBA) (Level B).

Question 22

What two age groups have anthrax not been evalutated for safety and efficacy?

Answer 22

Children under 18 and adults 60 or older.