Anthrax, tularemia, plague, ebola or smallpox as agents of bioterrorism: recognition in the emergency room.

Abstract

Bioterrorism has become a potential diagnostic consideration in infectious diseases. This article reviews the clinical presentation and differential diagnosis of potential bioterrorist agents when first presenting to the hospital in the emergency room setting. The characteristic clinical features of inhalation anthrax, tularemic pneumonia, plague pneumonia, including laboratory and radiographic finding, are discussed. Ebola vieus and smallpox are also discussed as potential bioterrorist-transmitted infections from the clinical and epidemiologic standpoint. In addition to the clinical features of the infectious diseases mentioned, the article discusses the infectious disease control and epidemiologic implications of these agents when employed as bioterrorist agents. The review concludes with suggestions for postexposure prophylaxis and therapy.

• Authors: B A Cunha
• Journal: Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (Clin Microbiol Infect) Vol. 8 Issue 8 Pg. 489-503 (Aug 2002) ISSN: 1198-743X [Print] England
• PMID: 12197871 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Anti-Infective Agents

Topics

• Anthrax (diagnosis, drug therapy, prevention & control, transmission)
• Anti-Infective Agents (therapeutic use)
• Bioterrorism (prevention & control)
• Emergency Service, Hospital
• Hemorrhagic Fevers, Viral (diagnosis, drug therapy, prevention & control, transmission)
• Humans
• Plague (diagnosis, drug therapy, prevention & control, transmission)
• Smallpox (diagnosis, drug therapy, prevention & control, transmission)
• Time Factors
• Tularemia (diagnosis, drug therapy, prevention & control, transmission)