Anthrax (anthrax; thesaurus synonyms: Anthrax contagiosus; Anthrax of the skin; Anthrax of the lungs; Anthrax meningitis; Anthrax pneumonia; Anthrax sepsis; Intestinal anthrax; Febris carbuncularis; Gastrointestinal anthrax; Gastrointestinal anthrax; Hadern’s disease; Cutaneous anthrax; Infection by anthrax bacilli; Inhalation anthrax; Inhalation anthrax; Intestinal anthrax; Intestinal anthrax; Pulmonary anthrax; Anthrax; Respiratory anthrax; Gastrointestinal anthrax; Anthrax fever; Anthrax carbuncle; Anthrax meningitis; Anthrax with pneumonia; Anthrax sepsis; Pustular maligna; Respiratory anthrax; Respiratory anthrax; Sepsis due to Bacillus anthracis; Cerebral anthrax; Cerebral anthrax; ICD-10-GM A22. -: Anthrax [anthrax]) is an infectious disease caused by the anthrax bacillus (Bacillus anthracis). Bacillus anthracis is a highly pathogenic spore-forming gram-positive rod bacterium.
The disease belongs to the group of bacterial zoonoses (animal diseases).
The pathogen reservoir is herbivorous animals (mainly cattle, horses, sheep and goats).
Occurrence: The infection occurs worldwide.
The bacterium itself is not particularly resistant in the environment. However, it can remain infective for up to more than two weeks at low temperatures. The spores of the anthrax pathogen, on the other hand, are extremely insensitive. Drying out does not destroy them, and exposure to sunlight kills them within four days. In the soil and protected from the sun, they remain viable for decades.
Transmission of the pathogen (infection route) to humans can occur by the following routes:
- Through small skin lesions (cutaneous anthrax).
- Through aerosols (pulmonary anthrax).
- By contaminated meat products (intestinal anthrax).
- By contaminated injection substances (contaminated heroin)/materials (injection anthrax).
Human-to-human transmission: No (exception if necessary skin anthrax).
At the beginning of the chain of infection are usually herbivorous mammals (livestock or wildlife). Depending on the route of infection, the following forms are distinguished according to ICD-10-GM:
- Cutaneous anthrax (95% of cases) – incubation period (time from infection to onset of disease) a few hours to several days.
- Pulmonary anthrax – incubation period a few days (in individual cases several weeks).
- Intestinal anthrax – incubation period a few days.
- Anthrax sepsis
- Other forms such as:
- Oral pharyngeal anthrax
- Injection anthrax – incubation period a few hours to days.
Anthrax also plays a role in bioterrorism.
Anthrax is very rare in Germany. Sporadically, anthrax is observed in heroin use. Worldwide, about 2,000 people become infected each year. Naturally occurring anthrax in humans almost always manifests as cutaneous anthrax.
Course and Prognosis:
If left untreated, anthrax is often lethal (fatal):
- Cutaneous anthrax about 5% lethality (mortality related to the total number of people suffering from the disease).
- Intestinal and pulmonary anthrax, if the disease is treated, about 50% lethality.
- Injection anthrax about 30% lethality.
Vaccination: in Germany is currently no protective vaccination against anthrax available, but in the United States.
In Germany, the disease according to the Infection Protection Act (IfSG) already suspected anthrax reportable by name.
