This document provides an overview of anthrax, including its causes, types, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Anthrax is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis and can cause cutaneous, inhalational, or gastrointestinal infection in humans. It is primarily treated with antibiotic therapy. Key prevention strategies include vaccination, hygiene practices like handwashing, and protective equipment for high risk groups like livestock workers.

1. Anthrax
CHN ii presentation
PRESENTED BY;
NOMAN ASMAT
MAAZ RAHAT
HUSSAIN ALI
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2. Contents /objetives
 Introduction
 Causes
 Risk factors
 Types
 Incidence
 Diagnosis
 Complications
 Transmission
 Treatment
 Prevention
 Pharmacological management
 Nursing managment
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3. Introduction
 Anthrax is a severe infectious disease caused by
the bacterium Bacillus anthraxis.
 anthrax spores can affect the upper
gastrointestinal tract (throat and esophagus),
stomach, and intestines, causing a wide variety
of symptoms.
 Without treatment, more than half of patients
with gastrointestinal anthrax die.
 However, with proper treatment, 60% of patients
survive
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4. Cause
 Anthrax is caused by the spore-forming
bacterium Bacillus anthracis.
 These spores can survive in the
environment for long periods, particularly
in soil and animal products.
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5. Risk factors
people at higher risk of being infected with anthrax
include:
 veterinarians
 laboratory professionals dealing the bacteria
 health care workers
 livestock producers
 people who handle animal products
 mail handlers, military personnel, and response
workers, in case of bioterrorism
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6. Cont...
 people who make or play animal hide drums
 travelers, particularly to the follow areas:
 central and south america
 sub-saharan africa
 central and southwestern asia
 southern and eastern europe
 the caribbean
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7. Types
 Cutaneous anthrax is the most common form and
typically occurs when spores come into contact
with a break in the skin.
 Sign and symptoms.
 It initially presents as a small, painless sore that
develops into a blister and eventually forms a
black, necrotic ulcer surrounded by swelling.
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9. Inhalational anthrax
 occurs when spores are inhaled into the lungs.
Signs and symptoms
 Symptoms initially resemble a common cold,
including fever, mild cough, and muscle aches. As
the disease progresses, it leads to severe
breathing difficulties, chest discomfort, and
shock.
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11. Gastrointestinal anthrax
 results from consuming contaminated meat.
Signs and symptoms
 It causes severe abdominal pain, nausea,
vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and fever.
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13. Incidence
 In October 2001, 22 confirmed or suspected cases
of anthrax infection were identified.
 Cases were reported from Florida, New York, New
Jersey, the District of Columbia, and Connecticut.
 There were 11 confirmed cases of inhalational
anthrax (5 deaths) and 7 confirmed and 4
suspected cases of cutaneous anthrax (no deaths).
 Anthrax is uncommon in Western Europe, but the
disease is not uncommon in the Middle East, the
Indian subcontinent, Africa, Asia, and Latin
America.
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14. Diagnosis 14

15. Complications
 sepsis
 meningitis
 intestinalperforations
 ulceration and necrosis of skini
 respiratory distress
 hemoragic mediastinitis
 intestiinal bleeding
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16. Transmission
 Anthrax primarily affects animals, particularly
herbivores.
 Humans can become infected through direct
contact with infected animals, their products, or
contaminated environments.
 In rare cases, anthrax can spread from person to
person, but this is not a common mode of
transmission.
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17. Treatment
 Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are crucial for
managing anthrax.
 Treatment typically involves aggressive antibiotic
therapy, such as a combination of intravenous antibiotics
like ciprofloxacin and one or two additional antibiotics
like clindamycin, doxycycline, or meropenem.
 Supportive care, including mechanical ventilation and
other intensive care measures, may be necessary
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18. Prevention
 Preventing anthrax involves several key measures:
Vaccination: An anthrax vaccine is available for individuals
at high risk, such as military personnel, laboratory workers,
and livestock handlers.
 Hygiene practices: Proper hand hygiene, especially after
contact with animals or animal products, is essential.
Thorough cooking of meat is also crucial to kill the
bacteria.
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19.  Personal protective equipment (PPE): Individuals
at risk of exposure to anthrax, such as animal
handlers, should wear appropriate PPE, including
gloves, masks, and protective clothing.
 Surveillance and control measures: Regular
monitoring of livestock, particularly in areas
where anthrax is endemic, can help detect
outbreaks early and implement necessary control
measures, such as quarantine and disinfection.
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20.  In conclusion, anthrax is a severe infectious
disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus
anthraces.
 It can manifest as cutaneous, inhalational, or
gastrointestinal anthrax, with varying signs and
symptoms.
 Anthrax is primarily transmitted through contact
with infected animals or contaminated
environments.
 Prompt treatment with antibiotics and antitoxins
is crucial for managing the disease. Vaccination,
hygiene practices, PPE use, and surveillance are
key preventive measures to control
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21. Pharmacologic Management
 Other antibiotics.
 Corticosteroids.
 Other antidotes. A monoclonal antibody (raxibacumab) and human anthrax
immune globulin have been approved by the FDA using the animal
efficacy rule for inhalational anthrax.
 Vaccines. The FDA approved a standard anthrax vaccine designated
“anthrax vaccine adsorbed” (AVA), which is a sterile filtrate of cultures of an
avirulent strain that elaborates protective antigen; no human controlled
trials are available; it is the first vaccine approved utilizing the animal rule
by the FDA
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22. Nursing management
Nursing Assessment
 Nursing assessment for a patient with anthrax include:
History.
 Anthrax is primarily zoonotic; no reports of direct human-
to-human transmission exist in the literature, but
laboratory personnel may contract the disease from
specimens;
 military personnel and civilians may become exposed in
biologic warfare situations; exposure may be through
agriculture or industry.
Physical assessment.
 Physical findings are nonspecific; the incubation period
for all clinical manifestations is 1-6 days following
exposure; the prodrome includes fever, malaise, and
adenopathy.
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23.  Nursing diagnosis
 Based on the assessment data, the major nursing
diagnosis for anthrax are:
 Ineffective airway clearance related to
obstruction of the airway.
 Ineffective breathing pattern related to a
decrease in lung expansion.
 Impaired swallowing related to mechanical
obstruction (oropharyngeal edema).
 Diarrhea related to increased motility of the GI.
 Impaired tissue integrity related to irritant toxin
anthrax bacteria.
 Hyperthermia related to an increase in metabolic
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24. Nursing Care Planning and Goals
 The major nursing care planning goals for a patient with anthrax include:
 Improve patency of airway.
 Improve breathing pattern.
 Improve swallowing.
 Eliminate diarrhea.
 Improve tissue integrity.
 Improve temperature to normal range
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25. Nursing Interventions
 Improve airway patency
 Improve breathing pattern.
 Improve swallowing.
 Eliminate diarrhea
 Diminish hyperthermia.
 Improve tissue integrity.
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26. Evaluation
 Nursing goals are met for a patient with anthrax as evidenced by:
 Improved patency of airway.
 Improved breathing pattern.
 Improved swallowing.
 Elimination of diarrhea.
 Improved tissue integrity.
 Improved temperature to normal range.
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27. References
 Sources and references for this Anthrax study guide include:
 • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017, Jan 31). Anthrax.
Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/anthrax/
 • Cennimo, D.J.(2018, Sept 13). Anthrax. Retrieved from
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/212127-overview
 https://nurseslabs.com/anthrax
 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anthrax/symptoms-
causes/syc-20356203
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