Therapeutic target
- Elimination of the pathogens
- Avoidance of complications
Therapy recommendations
- Antibiosis (antibiotic therapy); therapy should be intravenous if there is evidence of systemic spread.Duration of therapy:
- Localized cutaneous anthrax: 7-10 days.
- Suspected inhalation of spores: 60 days.
Caveat. If the central nervous system (CNS) is involved, the antibiotic must be liquid-permeable (property of active substances to cross the blood–brain barrier).
- Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) see below.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
- Exposure (“exposure”) to Bacillus anthracis should be followed by PEP with antibiotics (ciprofloxacin or doxycycline).
- If aerogenic (“airborne”) exposure occurred, PEP should be continued for 60 days.
- The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Anthrasil for the treatment of inhalational anthrax infection. Thiscontains immunoglobulins derived from the blood of volunteers who have previously been vaccinated against anthrax.
- A vaccine is available in the United States: BioThrax is used in the US to vaccinate soldiers.
- Standard hygiene (with disinfectants effective against spores) must be strictly observed; it is recommended to wear personal protective equipment with mouth/nose/eye protection and protective gowns.
