Definition
Anthrax - or anthrax carbuncle - is a terrible acute infection transmitted by the spores of the Bacillus anthracis ; the disease, fortunately rare, can involve the skin (milder variant), the gastro-intestinal or pulmonary apparatus. Anthrax is a medical emergency in all respects, given that it can give unfortunate results if not treated promptly. Also the asymptomatic form of the anthrax must be treated with specific pharmacological treatments.
Causes
Anthrax is a serious infection sustained by the Bacillus antraci, whose spores, in contact with the human body, create considerable damage, to the point of favoring death in some patients. The anthrax bacillus can be transmitted by inhalation (the most dangerous form of the disease) or by contact with animal skins previously contaminated by the pathogen. Anthrax can also be transmitted by ingesting infected animal meats.
Symptoms
The symptoms differ according to the form in which the anthrax occurs:
- Cutaneous anthrax → skin rash with blisters and boils having a black nucleus, associated with swelling and pain in the nearby lymphatic glands.
- Gastrointestinal anthrax: gastrointestinal symptoms with diarrhea and vomiting (often bloody), nausea, swallowing difficulties, chest pain, fever, swelling of the neck, loss of appetite, sore throat, general tiredness.
- Pulmonary anthrax (more dangerous variant): flu-like symptoms, such as fever, sore throat, muscle pain, fatigue and chest pain. Subsequently: high fever, serious breathing difficulties, shock and haemorrhagic meningitis, until death.
Information on Anthrax - Drugs for the Treatment of Anthrax is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Antrace - Anthrax Care Medications.
drugs
It is possible to eradicate anthrax with a targeted pharmacological intervention, which must always be immediate. Even in the case of suspected or presumed infection with Bacillus antraci, it is strongly recommended to seek medical attention as soon as possible, in order to start specific treatment in a short time if necessary. It should be emphasized, in fact, that anthrax is a terrible disease, which could seriously endanger the victim's life, until his death; in particular, the pulmonary variant of anthrax is the most terrible of all, although fortunately it is the least frequent.
Although the vaccine for anthrax prevention is on the market, chemoprophylaxis is not reserved for the entire population; rather, vaccination is recommended for those at risk, such as soldiers, subjects in contact with infected animals (infection reservoirs) and laboratory personnel in contact with the Bacillus anthracis . For these at-risk individuals, the recall of vaccination is recommended each year.
There is also a post-exposure immunization to the anthrax bacillus, which should be performed following a cycle of antibiotic drugs, especially ciprofloxacin and doxycycline; also amoxicillin can be taken, but only if the bacillus is sensitive to its bactericidal action. Post exposure immunization medications should be taken for 10-14 days.
The real cure for anthrax is purely pharmacological and is based on the administration of antibiotics for a rather long period of time, estimated at around 60 days: while for other infections, the expected antibiotic treatment is estimated at around 10-15 days, for anthrax it must be prolonged for a much longer period of time, given that the spores of the Bacillus anthrax are particularly resistant.
The most widely used antibiotics for anthrax treatment are quinolones, antimalarials and penicillins, which are often taken by combining two or more drugs; the pulmonary form of the anthrax is the most dangerous of all: a temporization in front of the treatment could cost the life of the patient effect.
Tetracycline:
- Doxycycline (eg Doxicicl, Periostat, Miraclin, Bassado): excellent drug used for the treatment of anthrax. For the treatment of cutaneous anthrax in adults, it is recommended to take 100 mg of active ingredient every 12 hours, for 2 months, starting from the presumed or confirmed exposure to the bacillus. Intravenous therapy with multiple antibiotics is indicated only in cases of proven systemic involvement, or head or neck injuries. As regards the treatment of pulmonary-gastrointestinal anthrax (the result of inhalation of bacillus spores), it is recommended to take the drug at a dose of 100 mg twice a day, for 60 days; doxycycline can be administered either orally or intravenously. Eventually, the transition from intravenous to oral therapy must be done as soon as possible, when the patient's clinical conditions clearly allow it. However, for post-exposure prophylaxis to anthrax bacillus, the recommended dose is the same; The extraordinary therapeutic activity of this drug for the treatment of anthrax is comparable to that of ciprofloxacin.
Quinolones:
- Ciprofloxacin (eg. Ciprofloxac, Samper, Ciproxin, Kinox): similar to doxycycline, ciprofloxacin is a drug widely used in therapy to treat anthrax. For the treatment of cutaneous anthrax in adults, especially in case of bioterrorism attack (use of the bacterium as a powerful biological weapon), it is recommended to start therapy with 500 mg of drug, to be taken twice a day orally, every 12 hours, and proceed with this treatment plan for 2 months. The drug can also be taken intravenously: the dosage, in this case, involves administering 400 mg of the drug every 12 hours. For the treatment of anthrax from inhalation of the bacillus, it is recommended to take the drug twice a day, intravenously, at a dose of 400 mg. If necessary, add another antibiotic to counteract the bacillus activity more effectively. Oral administration is also possible: take 500 mg of drug per os, every 12 hours for 60 days. Sometimes, it is possible to associate the intravenous therapy with the oral one, in order to get the pathogen away in a shorter time. For post-exposure prophylaxis of the anthrax bacillus, it is recommended to take the drug at a dose of 400 mg IV every 12 hours, or 500 mg orally every 12 hours for 60 days. The drug can also be administered to children with anthrax, particularly for post-exposure chemoprophylaxis. It is recommended to take 10mg / kg intravenously every 12 hours (max. Dose 400 mg / dose) or 15 mg / kg orally, twice a day, for a maximum of 500 mg per dose. Proceed with this scheme, often combined with oral + intravenous therapy, for 60 days.
- Moxifloxacin (eg. Vigamox, Avalox, Octegra): drug indicated for the treatment of pulmonary anthrax, starting from the earliest symptoms. It is recommended to take 400 mg of oral medication once a day for 60 days. The drug can also be taken for post-exposure prophylaxis (at the same posology) or for pulmonary anthrax treatment if the first-line drugs (ciprofloxacin and doxycycline) could not be administered.
- Levofloxacin (eg Levofloxacin, Levixiran, Aranda): the drug is indicated for the treatment of pulmonary anthrax, at a dose of 500 mg, taken orally or intravenously, once a day for 60 days. To be taken as a second-line drug for the treatment of anthrax, if the first-line antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and doxycycline had no positive effect on the patient. It is recommended to always combine one or more antibiotics with levofloxacin. A similar argument must be addressed for post-exposure chemoprophylaxis to anthrax bacillus; also in this case, the dosage for the adult is the same. For children suffering from anthrax, older than or equal to six months and weighing less than or equal to 50 kilos, following exposure by inhalation to the anthrax bacillus, it is recommended to take 8 mg / kg per os or per intravenous route every 12 hours for 60 days. Do not exceed 250 mg per dose. For children older than 6 months, weighing more than 50 kilos, anthrax prophylaxis therapy involves taking a dose of 500 mg orally or intravenously per day, for 2 months.
penicillin:
- Penicillin G or benzylpenicillin (eg Benzil B, Benzil P): for the treatment of anthrax following the inhalation of the bacillus, when sensitive to penicillin, it is recommended to administer the drug at a dose of 4 million units intravenously each 4 hours; in addition, also take one or two antibiotics (eg clindamycin, vancomycin, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol etc.) capable of acting directly against the bacillus. For the treatment of cutaneous anthrax, always when the bacillus is sensitive to the action of penicillin, it is recommended to take 4 million units of drug intravenously, every 4 or 6 hours. The duration of therapy should be determined by the doctor.
Among other possible antibiotics used in therapy for the treatment of anthrax, Chloramphenicol (eg Vitamin phenolic, Mycetin, Chemicetin), a broad-spectrum bacteriostatic antibiotic should not be forgotten. The active ingredient is often used as a second-line drug for the treatment of anthrax, often combined with other antibiotics. For the dosage, consult your doctor.
