inhalation anthrax

Introduction

see also anthrax

Clinical manifestations

• incubation of 1-60 days
• malaise, myalgias
• cough, dyspnea, chest pain

Radiology

• chest X-ray: widened mediastinum

Management

• ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin or doxycycline plus at least one additional agent (penicillin, ampicillin, meropenem, clindamycin, linezolid, rifampin, vancomycin or clarithromycin) for 60 days
• prophylaxis with ciprofloxcin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin or doxycycline
• consider raxibacumab, obiltoxaximab or IV anthrax immune globulin

Notes

• even a single case of inhalation anthrax should raise suspicion of bioterrorism

More general terms

• anthrax (woolsorter's disease)
• bacterial pneumonia

Additional terms

• Bacillus anthracis