What are the CDC recommendation on the treatment and prevention of anthrax?
CDC recommends a post-exposure regimen of 60 days of appropriate antimicrobial prophylaxis combined with 3 subcutaneous doses of the anthrax vaccine for previously unvaccinated people 18 years or older who have been exposed to aerosolized Bacillus anthracis spores.
How soon should a person exposed to inhalational anthrax receive medical countermeasures?
anthracis, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 60 days of treatment with either ciprofloxacin or doxycycline plus a three-dose series of anthrax vaccine adsorbed (AVA) starting as soon as possible after exposure (CDC, 2010; Stern et al., 2008).
What should I do after anthrax exposure?
If you think you may have been exposed to anthrax, you need to go to a doctor right away and explain why you think you may have been exposed. Doctors can prescribe antibiotics to prevent you from getting sick. There is no test a doctor can give you that determines if you have been exposed to anthrax.
What is first line treatment for anthrax?
Cutaneous Anthrax Treatment Protocol* †—Ciprofloxacin or doxycycline should be considered first-line therapy. Amoxicillin, 500 mg orally three times daily or 80 mg per kg per day divided every eight hours for children, is an option for completion of therapy after clinical improvement.
Why must a person who is exposed to anthrax continue taking post exposure prophylaxis antibiotics for 60 days?
Activated spores release toxins—or poisons—that attack the body, causing the person to become sick. That's why people who have been exposed to anthrax must take antibiotics for 60 days. This will protect them from any anthrax spores in their body when the spores are activated.
What is the best treatment for anthrax?
The standard treatment for anthrax is an antibiotic such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), doxycycline (Vibramycin) or levofloxacin.
How long is treatment for anthrax?
Antibiotics are usually taken for 60 days because it can take spores that long to germinate. Cutaneous anthrax is treated with antibiotics taken by mouth, usually for 7 to 10 days. Doxycycline and ciprofloxacin are most often used.
What is the incubation period for anthrax?
Incubation Period: The incubation period following an inhalation exposure to anthrax is 1-60 days, with most cases occurring 1-6 days after exposure. The incubation period for cutaneous anthrax is 1-5 days after inoculation.
What can be done upon exposure to a biothreat?
Wash yourself with soap and water and put on clean clothes. Contact authorities and seek medical assistance. You may be advised to stay away from others or even to quarantine. If your symptoms match those described and you are in the group considered at risk, immediately seek emergency medical attention.
What is anthrax prophylaxis?
Postexposure prophylaxis is indicated to prevent inhalational anthrax, and therapy with ciprofloxacin or doxycycline is recommended for adults and children for 60 days. The same agents are also advocated for the treatment of inhalation anthrax.
Which antibiotic is used to treat a patient with anthrax?
Cases of gastrointestinal and cutaneous anthrax can be treated with ciprofloxacin or doxycycline for 60 days. Penicillin such as amoxicillin or amoxicillin-clavulanate may be used to complete the course if the strain is susceptible.