Barriga AG

Language: Spanish
References: 15
Page: 125-129
PDF size: 41.27 Kb.

ABSTRACT

From October 5 to December 5 of 2001, a total of 18 cases of anthrax that met the C.D.C. case definition was observed in four states and the District of Columbia in Washington Direct and indirect exposition associated with intentional delivery of Bacillus anthracis spores through mailed letters or packages was the source. The initial symptoms resembled viral respiratory illness in the inhalational form, or a pruritic papule resembling an insect bite in the cutaneous form. Five of the patients die, blood cultures grew B. anthracis in most of patients. Other useful, laboratory test were B. anthracis specific polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-Iinked immunosorbent assay to detect immunoglobulin IgG response to protective antigen, and immunofluorescent and immunohistochemical examination of biopsies using antibodies to B. anthracis cell wall and capsules. White blood cell counts, hepatic function tests, electrolytes and acid-base blood gases were very useful to. Despite the reduced scale of this bioterrorism associated anthrax events, his cost in terms of mortality; the closing of public and business building, postal processing and distribution centers; the need of thousands of cultures of nasal swab specimens and environmental samplings in the probably exposed persons and contaminated areas, and the provision of antimicrobial prophylaxis to exposed persons and the adverse events associated with it were monumental. The threat of bioterrorism continues and now the attention should focus on the most lethal viruses; particulary those can be grown to higher titers, and are stable and infectious in aerosols.

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