BACKGROUND: The clinical features, therapy and outcome of anthrax cases from the Elazig province (the eastern Anatolian region) of Turkey seen in our clinic over an 8-year period were reviewed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of 25 anthrax cases observed in our clinic during the period January 1994 to April 2002 were examined. RESULTS: All cases were cutaneous; 18 (72%) patients exhibited malignant pustules and seven (28%) malignant edema. Three of the patients with a malignant pustule developed anthrax sepsis when admitted to our clinic. All cases were treated with penicillin. One patient who had penicillin allergy was treated with ciprofloxacin. In addition, patients with malignant edema were also treated with systemic corticosteroids (methylprednisolone or dexamethasone). Two patients died due to anthrax sepsis; one case with anthrax sepsis recovered. The mortality rate was 8%. DISCUSSION: Anthrax is still a reality in Turkey. Cutaneous anthrax should be considered in any patient with a painless ulcer with vesicles, edema and a history of exposure to animals or animal products. In our series, penicillin and ciprofloxacin were effective in treatment of anthrax. Our anthrax sepsis case demonstrates that anthrax sepsis is not always fatal if antibiotic treatment is given early after diagnosis.
BACKGROUND: The clinical features, therapy and outcome of anthrax cases from the Elazig province (the eastern Anatolian region) of Turkey seen in our clinic over an 8-year period were reviewed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of 25 anthrax cases observed in our clinic during the period January 1994 to April 2002 were examined. RESULTS: All cases were cutaneous; 18 (72%) patients exhibited malignant pustules and seven (28%) malignant edema. Three of the patients with a malignant pustule developed anthraxsepsis when admitted to our clinic. All cases were treated with penicillin. One patient who had penicillinallergy was treated with ciprofloxacin. In addition, patients with malignant edema were also treated with systemic corticosteroids (methylprednisolone or dexamethasone). Two patients died due to anthraxsepsis; one case with anthraxsepsis recovered. The mortality rate was 8%. DISCUSSION: Anthrax is still a reality in Turkey. Cutaneous anthrax should be considered in any patient with a painless ulcer with vesicles, edema and a history of exposure to animals or animal products. In our series, penicillin and ciprofloxacin were effective in treatment of anthrax. Our anthraxsepsis case demonstrates that anthraxsepsis is not always fatal if antibiotic treatment is given early after diagnosis.
Authors: Daniel A Sweeney; Caitlin W Hicks; Xizhong Cui; Yan Li; Peter Q Eichacker Journal: Am J Respir Crit Care Med Date: 2011-08-18 Impact factor: 21.405
Authors: Apurba Chakraborty; Salah Uddin Khan; Mohammed Abul Hasnat; Shahana Parveen; M Saiful Islam; Andrea Mikolon; Ranjit Kumar Chakraborty; Be-Nazir Ahmed; Khorsed Ara; Najmul Haider; Sherif R Zaki; Alex R Hoffmaster; Mahmudur Rahman; Stephen P Luby; M Jahangir Hossain Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2012-04 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Katherine A Hendricks; Mary E Wright; Sean V Shadomy; John S Bradley; Meredith G Morrow; Andy T Pavia; Ethan Rubinstein; Jon-Erik C Holty; Nancy E Messonnier; Theresa L Smith; Nicki Pesik; Tracee A Treadwell; William A Bower Journal: Emerg Infect Dis Date: 2014-02 Impact factor: 6.883
Authors: Md Saiful Islam; M Jahangir Hossain; Andrea Mikolon; Shahana Parveen; M Salah Uddin Khan; Najmul Haider; Apurba Chakraborty; Abu Mohammad Naser Titu; M Waliur Rahman; Hossain M S Sazzad; Mahmudur Rahman; Emily S Gurley; Stephen P Luby Journal: Infect Ecol Epidemiol Date: 2013-11-27