Viruses are the causative agents of anthrax. Anthrax - causes, symptoms and proper treatment

It has a high probability of death. The causative agent of anthrax is Bacillus anthracis. People working on farms are at risk, as infection occurs through contact with animals. The anthrax disease, a photo of the results of which can scare anyone, is dangerous for several reasons: it is quite common in the animal world, the spores of the causative agent of the disease are stored for a long time in the soil of the burial ground, the disease is severe and gives complications.

Description

The causative agent of anthrax is a large, immobile bacterium. Being in the human or animal body, it forms a capsule, in the external environment - a spore.

Spores of the pathogen can persist in the soil for about 10 years, and five times longer in cattle burial grounds. They are not afraid of frost and heat, they are able to survive in solutions and chloramine, and they can withstand boiling for 7 minutes.

Everyone knows of cases where the anthrax agent was used by terrorists and distributed in envelopes.

The vegetative form of the bacterium quickly dies after disinfection and boiling. The anthrax bacterium can go into a dormant form and become active under favorable environmental conditions.

Story

Since ancient times, anthrax has affected humanity. Homer and Hippocrates also referred to it as “sacred coal.” In the Middle Ages, this disease claimed the lives of many people and animals in different countries. The disease was first described in the 17th century. Russian scientist S.S. Andreevsky proved that anthrax in animals and humans is the same disease that occurs through self-infection. He also gave this disease its modern name.

At the end of the 19th century, Louis Pasteur was able to create the first vaccine. He injected animals with a weakened strain of anthrax bacteria, which led to the development of immunity. Pasteur was able to prove the need for vaccination to prevent the disease.

WHO reports 20,000 anthrax cases annually. Research is currently underway to improve the vaccine and increase its duration of action. In 2010, US scientists were able to introduce the anthrax gene into the tobacco genome. As a result of these actions, an antigen began to be produced in plants, which was used to create a new vaccine that caused virtually no side effects.

Epidemiological process

Anthrax is transmitted to humans through livestock. Birds are immune to this disease, but they can carry spores on their feathers, claws and beaks.

An anthrax bacillus in a sick animal is found in feces, blood, and fluid secreted from the nose and mouth. The pathogen enters soil and water through urine and feces.

The soil at the site of death of sick livestock becomes contaminated, and wild animals, taking away the corpse, can spread the disease for many kilometers.

Infection from one person to another does not occur, so the level of disease in humans directly depends on the epidemic in animals.

Infection can occur through the soil, through contact with infected animal products, when caring for sick animals, during autopsy of their corpses, through injuries to the skin, food and inhaled air.

In African countries, where anthrax is particularly common in animals, its transmission to humans can occur through the bite of a blood-sucking insect.

Who is at risk

There are several groups of people who are particularly at risk of infection:

veterinary workers in contact with animals;
manufacturers, sellers, as well as buyers of products made from natural fur and wool brought from regions where the disease is widespread;
hunters;
military personnel and other categories of citizens located in epidemic areas;
people working in laboratories who are in direct contact with the anthrax pathogen.

Prevalence

No country has completely eradicated anthrax. It is most often found in Africa and South America, as well as in the countries of the Asian region. In Europe, the epidemic periodically occurs in its southern part, on the Black Sea and Mediterranean coasts. The leaders in the number of anthrax patients are Türkiye, Iran and Iraq.

In Russia, this disease most often occurs in the North Caucasus region. The main reason for its occurrence in our country is the slaughter of an infected animal without notifying the veterinary service and without carrying out necessary measures disinfection.

Features of the spread of the disease:

in developing countries, infection occurs after contact with an animal, caring for it, or slaughter;
In developed countries, the infection is transmitted mainly through industrial raw materials of animal origin.

Classification of the disease

The following forms of anthrax are distinguished:

cutaneous;
intestinal;
pulmonary

The cutaneous form is the most common (approximately 95% of cases) total number cases). It can be carbunculous (the most common), bullous, endematous and erysipeloid.

The pulmonary and intestinal forms are often combined under one name - generalized or septic ulcer. Less common intestinal form disease (less than 1% of cases).

Symptoms and course of the disease

The latent period of illness can last from several hours to a week. From the moment the pathogen enters a person until the first symptoms appear, a different amount of time may pass (depending on the route of infection). With air and food method Once infected, the disease develops at lightning speed, and death can occur within a few days.

Regardless of the form of anthrax, the mechanism of its development is the same: the toxin damages blood vessels, disrupts their permeability, resulting in swelling, inflammation and loss of sensitivity.

The most common is carbunculous anthrax (a photo of the causative agent of the disease is presented below).

The onset of the disease is characterized by the appearance of a red spot on the skin at the site of infection, which subsequently turns into a papule and then into a vesicle. dark color. Having burst, the vesicle transforms into an ulcer with raised edges, around which new vesicles may appear. After some time, a black scab forms in the ulcer, similar to burnt skin. The sensitivity of the skin around the scab disappears. Its external similarity to coal led to the emergence of the old Russian name for anthrax - coal.

Swelling appears around the affected skin. It is dangerous when a carbuncle occurs on the face and can lead to swelling of the airways and death.

The course of the disease is accompanied by high fever, aches, and headaches. After a few weeks, the ulcer heals and a scar appears.

Endematous anthrax is characterized by swelling, the carbuncle appears over late stage disease and is large in size.

With the bullous variety of the disease, blisters appear at the site of infection, which, after opening, turn into ulcers.

The pulmonary form of the disease is often called wool sorters disease. The anthrax bacterium travels with the air into the lungs, and from there into the lymph nodes, which become inflamed. Initially, the patient experiences high fever, chest pain, and weakness. After several days, shortness of breath and decreased oxygen levels in the blood appear. Once in the lungs, the anthrax pathogen quickly spreads throughout the human body. An X-ray often appears and may show the presence of pneumonia; the patient’s body temperature often rises to 41 degrees. Pulmonary edema and cardiovascular failure occur, and as a result, cerebral hemorrhages are possible.

After the pathogen enters the human body through food and drink, the intestinal form of anthrax develops. The first phase of the disease lasts about 2 days and is accompanied by a sore throat, high temperature, and fever. Subsequently, these symptoms are supplemented by vomiting blood, severe abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Cardiovascular failure appears, the face becomes purple or bluish, and papules form on the skin. With intestinal anthrax, the patient is likely to die.

In the septic form, the disease progresses rapidly, causing intoxication and internal hemorrhages. The consequence of such an illness can be infectious-toxic shock.

Diagnostics

Laboratory diagnosis of anthrax includes the following:

bacteriological studies;
skin allergy tests.

For the skin form of the disease, the doctor will make a diagnosis based on changes in the patient’s skin. If there is a suspicion of a pulmonary form, fluorography and tomography are done, nasal swabs and sputum samples are taken.

Causative agents of infectious diseases can also be determined by taking blood for bacterial cultures and examining samples abdominal fluid, analysis of skin scrapings.

Possible complications

anthrax can lead to swelling of the brain, lungs, gastrointestinal bleeding, meningitis. In generalized forms of the disease, infectious-toxic shock often develops.

Treatment

Patients should be in the infectious diseases department, when severe course diseases - in the intensive care unit. Under no circumstances should the carbuncle be opened, so dressings must be carried out with extreme caution. When sick, the patient should be under constant monitoring to prevent toxic shock in time.

The causative agent of anthrax is destroyed with the help of antibiotics. They are used for 7-14 days depending on the severity of the disease. Simultaneously with antibiotic therapy, the patient is administered anti-anthrax immunoglobulin. The affected areas of the skin are treated with antiseptics. There is no way to treat anthrax at home.

Forecast

Discharge of patients with the cutaneous form of the disease occurs after scarring of the affected skin; with the generalized form, complete recovery and double negative result bacteriological research.

Most often, pulmonary and intestinal forms of the disease lead to death. With cutaneous anthrax, complete recovery occurs if timely treatment is provided. health care.

People who have been exposed to anthrax take antibiotics for 60 days.

Prevention: general information

Veterinary and health care prevention of anthrax is carried out.

Veterinary services are required to identify sick animals with subsequent treatment or slaughter. Dead livestock are disinfected and destroyed, and disinfection is carried out at the source of the disease.

Health services should:

monitor compliance with general sanitary standards;
diagnose and treat the disease in a timely manner;
examine and disinfect the source of the disease;
carry out vaccination.

There is an anthrax vaccine that reliably protects animals from this disease. IN farms Vaccination is carried out universally, but not all people who own livestock understand the need for this procedure.

Basic measures to prevent anthrax

annual anthrax vaccination;
clarification by veterinary services of the rules for slaughtering animals that died from anthrax;
reliable protection of cattle burial grounds and epidemic sites;
refusal to purchase meat that does not have a veterinary service mark, as well as skin and fur from hands;
burning a dead animal infected with anthrax, scorching the ground where sick livestock lay, disinfecting premises with bleach;
imposing quarantine on the place where livestock has been infected with anthrax;
vaccinating people whose professional activities are associated with the risk of contracting an ailment such as anthrax (the vaccine is valid for a year);
carrying out sanitary supervision at enterprises processing animal raw materials;
Pathogens of infectious diseases can be found in food, so you should follow the rules for processing and preparing meat and dairy products.

Anthrax is a zoonotic infection characteristic feature which is damage to the skin, lungs and intestines. The causative agent of anthrax is Bacillus anthracis. This pathogenic microorganism enters the human body through damaged skin, the mucous membrane of the airways, and the digestive tract. The disease belongs to the category of the most dangerous, since there is high probability lethal outcome. May affect people from a variety of backgrounds age categories, including children.

Pathogen

The causative agent of anthrax is a non-motile bacterium in the center of which spores are localized. Their main function is to protect the microorganism. Anthrax spores are formed when the bacterium enters unfavorable conditions for it. But it is worth noting that vegetative forms are less stable and therefore die instantly under the influence of high temperatures and disinfectants. solutions. The focus in which the anthrax causative agent is localized is soil.

Transmission routes

The causative agent of anthrax can enter the human body in various ways:

the most common - contact-household. You can become infected with anthrax by caring for sick animals, coming into contact with the corpses of already dead animals, or coming into contact with fur or excrement;
airborne dust. In this case, a person becomes infected with anthrax by inhaling spores of the bacteria. During the act of breathing, spores enter the lung tissue, and from there into the lymph nodes. There they begin to actively multiply and destroy immune cells, after which they are transferred into the bloodstream and attack vitally important organs and systems;
food route. A person can become infected by eating insufficiently cooked meat. In this case, the intestinal form of anthrax develops.

Forms

In medicine, the following forms of anthrax are distinguished:

cutaneous;
septic;
pulmonary;
intestinal.

Symptoms

The symptoms of anthrax directly depend on what particular form of pathology develops in a person.

Cutaneous form

It is this form that is diagnosed in patients most often (99% of cases). The pathogen enters the human body through damaged skin - through cracks, abrasions, cuts, scratches, etc. Usually a single carbuncle forms on the skin, but the appearance of several pathological elements is also possible. If the area of the face, neck or head is affected, then anthrax occurs in severe form. Location pathological formation in these areas there is a risk that swelling may spread to airways which will lead to suffocation.

Varieties:

carbunculosis;
bullous;
edema;
erysipeloid.

The carbunculous variety of anthrax is diagnosed in most clinical situations. At the site of infection penetration into the skin, a small red-blue spot forms. In this case, the patient does not experience any discomfort.

Later, in place of this element, a nodule with a red tint is formed. With its appearance, the first subjective sensations come - itching and burning. The nodule grows over several days, forming a vesicle, inside of which there is a serous exudate, which later changes to hemorrhagic. The blister can spontaneously open, and in its place an ulcer with a black bottom remains. Necrosis of the epidermis develops, and the bottom of the ulcer hardens, forming a scab, around which new blisters begin to form, which tend to open on their own. They increase the already formed scab in size (maximum 10 cm).

In the case of progression of the edema variety, pronounced swelling first appears at the site of penetration of the infectious agent, which is later replaced by the formation of a fairly large carbuncle. This type of anthrax is rarely diagnosed and is more severe than the carbunculosis type.

With the bullous variety, infiltration is observed at the site of bacterial penetration, on the surface of which pathological blisters of various sizes are formed, containing hemorrhagic secretions. The opening of the blisters occurs on average after 8 days, and in their place ulcerative elements with necrosis are formed.

The erysipeloid variety progresses least often. It is characterized by a lighter course. Pathological blisters form on the patient’s skin, containing serous exudate. After opening them, ulcers with a dense black crust remain.

Pulmonary form

This form develops very quickly and is very dangerous for humans. On early stage The patient experiences only minor developments discomfort in the chest. But clinical manifestations gradually become more pronounced. The following signs appear:

severe shortness of breath;
increase in body temperature to critical indicators- 40 degrees;
intoxication syndrome;
bluish skin;
tachypnea;
chills.

Gradually pain syndrome in the chest area intensifies and in its intensity can resemble. The cough increases and foamy-bloody sputum is released. Regional enlargement of lymph nodes is observed. If proper treatment is not started in a timely manner, this form of anthrax can lead to fatal outcome.

Intestinal form

abdominal pain;
temperature increase;
bloody diarrhea;
loss of appetite, up to its complete loss;
nausea;
vomiting mixed with blood and bile;

Septic form

Symptoms of this form of anthrax appear due to the severe course of any of the above forms:

chills;
loose, bloody stools;
temperature increase;
nausea and vomiting;
severe shortness of breath;
chest pain;
tachypnea;
cough, during which frothy sputum with blood is released.

Diagnostics

It is important that when the first symptoms indicating the development of anthrax appear, immediately contact medical institution for diagnosis and treatment of the disease. The standard diagnostic program for suspected anthrax is as follows:

taking anamnesis;
assessment of patient complaints;
hemogram;
bacterioscopic method;
bacteriological method;
immunofluorescence method;
skin allergy test.

Treatment

Treatment for anthrax must begin immediately after the diagnosis has been accurately confirmed. It is worth noting the fact that the earlier therapy is started, the greater the chances of success. The patient is prescribed:

infusion therapy;
antibiotic therapy;
administration of anti-anthrax immunoglobulin.

Infusion therapy is based on the intravenous administration of active solutions, which should replenish the volume of cellular, intracellular and vascular fluid in the human body.

Doctors prescribe solutions:

colloidal;
crystalloid;
blood products.

Antibiotic therapy is based on the use of:

penicillin;
tetracycline;
erythromycin;
levofloxacin;
oxycycline.

In case of severe pathology, glucocorticosteroids are also included in the main treatment plan.

When diagnosing anthrax to a patient in mandatory anti-anthrax immunoglobulin is administered. The main goal of such treatment is to create immunity to the causative agent of the disease. This drug is also used as a preventive measure.

It is important to start treatment as soon as possible, since there is a high risk of death, especially if the pulmonary or intestinal form of the pathology progresses. Treatment of patients with this diagnosis is carried out only in a hospital setting. Self-medication is unacceptable!

Vaccine

Anthrax is a very serious disease, the treatment of which is quite complex and not always effective. Therefore against of this disease a special vaccine was created. There are three types of this drug:

inactivated vaccine against illness;
live vaccine;
combination vaccine.

The vaccine against this disease is administered to people who are at risk:

veterinarians;
laboratory assistants;
meat processing plant workers;
slaughterhouse workers, etc.

After receiving the anthrax vaccine, the following side effects may occur:

headache;
weakness;
regional enlargement of lymph nodes.

Contraindications for administering a vaccine against the disease:

bearing a child;
infectious and inflammatory diseases in the acute period;
skin pathologies;
oncology;
AIDS.

Prevention

Prevention of the disease includes the following measures:

vaccination of people at risk;
animal vaccination;
pet control;
control of transportation and storage of meat products;
early identification of patients and their timely hospitalization (in order to prevent the spread of the disease, people who were in close contact with the patient are also isolated);
carrier isolation;
the corpses of infected animals are burned.

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Diseases with similar symptoms:

Pneumonia (officially pneumonia) is an inflammatory process in one or both respiratory organs, which usually has infectious nature and is caused by various viruses, bacteria and fungi. In ancient times, this disease was considered one of the most dangerous, and although modern means Treatments allow you to get rid of the infection quickly and without consequences; the disease has not lost its relevance. According to official data, in our country every year about a million people suffer from pneumonia in one form or another.

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Anthrax, or "sacred fire"

It would seem that nothing has been heard about such a dangerous infectious disease as anthrax for a long time. But in the last decade, various rumors and speculations began to circulate in the press that (and not without reason) that anthrax spores could be used by intelligence services to infect a person, say, with the help of a letter or a parcel.

How possible is this, and why is anthrax used for this? Yes, simply because when using anthrax as a bacteriological weapon, the aggressor receives a controlled outbreak: after all, this infection is not transmitted from person to person. If you use plague for the same purposes, the consequences can be unpredictable.

This is a very “persistent” pathogen: the anthrax bacillus forms such stable spores that they can, for example, persist in the soil for decades.

And after 15 - 20 years, after blurring groundwater cemeteries of animals that died from anthrax, new outbreaks among animals are possible. Let's tell you more about the causes and symptoms of anthrax. Let us remind you that there are diseases more terrible than the usual “chondrosis” and ARVI.

Anthrax - what is it? Pathogen and development of the disease

Anthrax - photo skin symptoms in humans

What it is? Anthrax is a particularly dangerous infectious anthropozoonotic disease. This means that not only people get sick, but also animals: both wild and farmed.

Characteristic processes for anthrax are inflammatory processes in the skin and lymph nodes, which are serous-hemorrhagic in nature. In addition, internal organs are affected.

All this leads to great diversity in the clinical picture, and often this disease ends in death.

The causative agent of anthrax (photo)

The causative agent, or anthrax bacillus, is the first of the harmful microbes that I saw human eye. This happened in 1850, when the French scientist K. Daven conducted experiments on “vaccinating” blood from sick animals into healthy ones. Later, in pure culture it was singled out by Robert Koch.

And it was difficult not to see: it is a large bacillus, immobile, and stains well. Just a “twig” or “stick”, with sharply cut off ends. Its length can reach up to 0.01 mm, and this is a respectable size in the world of bacteria.

The causative agent of anthrax forms capsules and spores that are very stable. The bacillus is unpretentious to food and is cultivated in various media. It has pronounced biochemical activity and breaks down proteins, fats and carbohydrates into their component parts. This allows the pathogen to form ulcers.

In addition, the stick secretes a very strong poison, or exotoxin, and its capsule has pronounced antigenic properties. This toxin promotes the rapid development of edema, very severe inflammation and causes disruption of immune defense.

By the way, the name of the pathogen is Bacilla anthracis. “Anthrax” is the name of this disease in the English-speaking language group. It has a common root with the name “anthracite” - one of the varieties of coal. In ancient times, the manifestations of anthrax on the skin were called the word “carbuncle”. And these days this is what they call expressed skin inflammation with a bright red rim.

Of course, it looks like a coal, only not black, but red-hot. That is why in ancient times anthrax was called “sacred fire.” Naturally, it was believed that the gods sent it to people and livestock.

The stability of the pathogen is largely determined by its relationship to oxygen: rods, that is, “adult” microbes die without access to oxygen, and spores, or “embryos,” tolerate the absence of oxygen well. This condition allows us to classify the anthrax causative agent as a facultative anaerobes.

Perhaps the spores of the anthrax causative agent are record holders - “extreme”, even in the world of microbes. If you put them in an autoclave, then high pressure and a temperature of 140 degrees will destroy them no earlier than in two hours! And such “trifles” as freezing and solar radiation have practically no effect on spores, so a long-forgotten cattle burial ground, where the corpses of dead animals were buried, can be dangerous for decades. How does infection occur, and where does the danger lie?

Anthrax transmission routes, infection and epidemiology

Currently, people continue to get sick in Russia, but only those associated with farm animals, in areas of grazing and pasture. Basically, these are the Caucasus and steppe areas of grazing cattle breeding. The number of infected people usually does not exceed 40–50 people per year, and infection usually occurs in the warm season.

The modes of transmission of anthrax infection are interesting feature: a person can become infected from an animal, but he is not able to infect another person: the patient is not dangerous to others. But a person can easily infect an animal.

Thus, for humans, anthrax is an “epidemic dead end,” but for animals it is a real “scourge.” After all, epizootics (epidemics among animals) can destroy thousands of herds of sheep, hundreds of cows, pigs, camels, goats and other living creatures in one season.

What routes of human infection are possible:

equipment, hay, bedding, harness contaminated with secretions of a sick animal;
cuts during meat processing and slaughter of sick livestock;
engaging in furrier craft and working with skins, furs, skins, and bristles of sick animals;
work associated with inhalation of infected wool (drapers), bone meal;
consumption of milk and meat of sick animals.

It becomes clear why anthrax has many varieties and forms. After all, a person becomes infected through the respiratory system, through gastrointestinal tract, through the skin. All this leads to an abundance different symptoms: after all, sometimes the skin “takes the blow”, sometimes the lungs, and sometimes the stomach and intestines.

A few words about the natural focal nature of the disease: constant “smoldering lesions” among animals occur due to eating feed contaminated with the feces of sick livestock. Thus, in animals there is a main route of transmission - nutritional, or food. Important place The transmission chain includes horseflies, spider flies and gadflies, which, by biting many animals, transmit the infection.

In general, infectiousness for humans is not very high when contact path transmission: usually only 20% of people get sick. With respiratory transmission and inhalation of spores or bacilli, 100% of those in contact become ill, and extremely severe anthrax pneumonia occurs.

About immunity. Those who have been ill with Siberian flu acquire exceptionally stable and lifelong immunity. Throughout the history of mankind, such workers were valued extremely highly, and their work was paid several times higher: they could remove the corpses of dead animals, take them away from villages, and care for sick animals that could recover without risking their lives. It is clear that the others refused to do this work.

Development of the disease, or pathogenesis of “Siberian fever”

We will not dwell in detail on all forms of the disease, but will consider only two of them: the most common, cutaneous form (which also has many varieties), and the most severe - with pulmonary dissemination of the pathogen.

During the contact route of infection, the following events occur:

Contamination occurs through small cracks and damaged skin;
Primary reproduction of the pathogen in the depths of the wound occurs several hours (!) after penetration;
The rods form a capsule. The synthesis of antigens and toxin begins;
Appears strong local swelling, necrosis occurs at the site of infection. The central zone of necrosis is black, and along the periphery there is a bright red infiltrate of serous and hemorrhagic inflammation. It looks a lot like an extinct black coal surrounded by smoldering coals;
Through the lymphatic system, microbes enter the regional lymph nodes. Since infection occurs more often through the hands, then we're talking about about axillary lymph nodes.

In the pulmonary form of the disease, the conditions for the proliferation of pathogens are much more comfortable; the lungs are a ready-made “nutrient medium”:

Pathogen spores adhere to mucus, which is secreted by the bronchial glands;
They are “picked up” by alveolar macrophages, and “with their own hands” they bring “enemies” into the lymph nodes of the roots of the lungs and mediastinum;
There, rapid growth of spores begins, production of a toxin, with the development of pronounced edema;
As a result, serous hemorrhagic mediastinitis (inflammation of the mediastinum) occurs, with a pronounced clinical picture, which will be described below;
Then, having overcome the barrier, the bacilli are absorbed into the blood, with the development of anthrax sepsis, or the appearance of secondary pneumonia.

The development of the intestinal form occurs in approximately the same way, with the only difference being that the pathogen multiplies in the mesenteric (mesenteric) lymph nodes. It can also enter the bloodstream, causing the development of sepsis, which is always accompanied by high mortality.

photo of symptoms

Symptoms of anthrax in humans, in most cases, appear quickly: after two to three days. The cutaneous form has several varieties, but the most common is the classic form - anthrax carbuncle. Therefore, we will consider this particular form.

The first signs of classical anthrax are that a red spot appears at first, which does not bother you. Then it becomes a bump and becomes coppery in color. Itching appears. After a few hours, a bubble appears, the contents of which are transparent. The contents then turn bloody.

After opening the bladder, an ulcer appears, with a dark bottom, a raised edge and scanty discharge. A “necklace” of secondary vesicles forms along the periphery of the ulcer.

Both the central and “daughter vesicles” merge into one carbuncle, and, after a few days, a black scab appears in the center, which does not hurt, but along the periphery there is a pronounced, red inflammatory ridge that can reach a size of 10 cm. Tissues surrounding cushion, sharply swollen due to the action of the toxin.

Of course, fever and intoxication occur, but after 10-14 days the scab is rejected and the condition returns to normal.

Regarding the pulmonary form, then the onset is characterized by a flu-like syndrome. Then severe tachycardia and shortness of breath develop, with chills and high fever up to 40 and above. There is copious, blood-stained sputum that resembles “raspberry jelly”, sharp pains in the chest.

If not accepted urgent measures, then death occurs after 2-3 days, due to acute pulmonary-heart failure, generalization of the septic process.

The intestinal form proceeds in a similar way in terms of the level of intoxication and severity, only, naturally, it has its own characteristics in the localization of pain and local signs infections. With the intestinal form, as well as with the pulmonary form, in the absence of treatment, in almost 80–90% of cases, death is guaranteed.

Anthrax diagnostics, tests

Diagnosis of anthrax is quite simple in most cases. The range of diagnostic search is narrowed by such facts as the connection of the sick person with animals and livestock farming, data clinical picture: the appearance of “daughter necklaces”, a painless scab and a cushion. If you take the discharge from the surface of the carbuncle, you can isolate a pure culture of the pathogen.

Pulmonary, intestinal, septic and other generalized forms require real difficulties, especially if the patient left the outbreak and got there by accident. Therefore in in this case treatment is prescribed without waiting for a pure culture to be isolated.

They also use more modern immunological diagnostic methods, as well as skin testing. But still, in order to confirm the presence of anthrax sepsis, it is necessary to isolate a pure blood culture, that is, to prove the presence of the pathogen in the blood.

Anthrax treatment, drugs

I’m even ashamed to somehow write that the “sacred fire” collapsed once and for all under attack modern antibiotics. Since this disease is very rare among people, and the spores “dormant” in the soil for years, the causative agent of “Siberia”, then the pathogen does not have the opportunity to carry out beneficial mutations that cause drug resistance.

Regular penicillin saves you from the disease, and even more powerful antibiotics. Specific immunoglobulin therapy is also used, which avoids complications.

Do not forget that one person can experience several carbuncles at the same time, their number can reach up to three dozen, so surgical aid, wound treatment and prescription are required local funds, both antimicrobial and promoting epithelialization and healing.

Generalized forms are treated in the intensive care unit of infectious diseases hospitals.

Conclusion

We briefly talked about the manifestations of anthrax in humans. Actually, we (humans) are very lucky. Nature “punished” us with “heavenly fire,” but she also gave us the keys to treatment. This is a fact that it is impossible to get infected from a patient, the presence of strong immunity, and also very characteristic manifestations disease, in its most common form.

In addition, an accurate diagnosis occurs when mentioning animals that are included in the diagnostic “chain”.

Therefore, we can say that man learned to limit the spread of this infection with his own strength and means even before the invention effective medicines, and the advent of antibiotics made it possible to finally “tame” the “sacred fire.”

But it is precisely this “quiet behavior” of the pathogen that is fraught with great danger when used in evil hands. Some extremist regimes may use anthrax spores for terrorist acts, for example, by spraying them in crowded places. We can only hope that the power of reason and progress will triumph, and this serious illness will become a thing of the past forever.

Malignant carbuncle or anthrax is the most famous name for anthrax in medical circles. What else do we know about this disease? These days it is found only in certain areas. But the data modern statistics do not prevent the disease from being included in the list of the most dangerous infections worldwide. Another feature of anthrax is its rapid development and large number of deaths, despite early detection and almost lightning-fast assistance.

What kind of infection is this? How does anthrax manifest in humans? Where does this disease come from and how dangerous is it for others? What to do at the first signs and how to treat the infection? Which preventive actions will help avoid infection? Let's understand these issues.

Historical information about anthrax

The first mentions of the disease have reached us since ancient times. Then the infection was known under mythical names: “sacred fire”, in some sources - “Persian fire”.

Why is anthrax called that now? In pre-revolutionary times in Russia, cases of the disease in Siberia became more frequent, which was the reason to name the disease after its place of origin. At the end of the 18th century, the Russian scientist S.S. As a result of experiments on himself, Andreevsky proved that the disease is transmitted from animals to humans.

There are a number of assumptions in history that it was anthrax bacteria that were used as biological weapons during the war.

Throughout the history of the study of anthrax, the pathogen was fully described by several scientists almost simultaneously, but only R. Koch first isolated it. Now this infection occurs occasionally, and the number of cases per year does not exceed a dozen. Then why is it still of interest to doctors? There are good reasons for this.

The causative agent of anthrax

Anthrax is bacterial infection. The pathogen has a number of features, due to which it easily multiplies and leads to damage to internal organs.

The causative agent of anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) belongs to the genus Bacillus. This is a large gram-positive rod. These bacteria can be in two forms - vegetative and spores.

What is the difference between the causative agent of anthrax?

IN in the usual form bacteria quickly die when boiled and exposed to disinfectants.
Spores remain in the soil for decades without changing their properties.
Those types of bacteria that can cause disease in an animal’s body produce specific substances that interfere with the functioning of the immune system against the pathogen.
Anthrax spores are stable in the external environment and die only after autoclaving after 40 minutes.
The bacteria can produce an exotoxin, leading to swelling and death.

The causative agent of anthrax can be found in the environment while working with animals. It is much easier to contact, but almost impossible to get rid of. The important thing is that the bacteria are found deep in the soil, from where they spread across the ground through precipitation or thanks to wild animals.

Transmission routes

The source of anthrax infection is sick animals, including domestic ones:

Cats and dogs are virtually immune to bacteria. Anthrax in domestic animals often occurs in a generalized form. A person’s susceptibility depends on the amount of pathogen entering the body, the route of infection and immunity.

The routes of transmission of anthrax are as follows.

IN surrounding a person There are three sources of anthrax in the environment:

agricultural;
industrial;
domestic.

The first option is characterized by seasonality - it appears more often in the summer-autumn period, but others can be encountered throughout the year. Outbreaks or epidemics of anthrax in Russia are recorded in our time. The last surge in infection was recorded in November 2016.

How do bacteria behave inside the human body?

What is anthrax? - this is an acute, especially dangerous bacterial infection, characterized by severe intoxication, the formation of foci of inflammation on the skin, enlarged lymph nodes and damage to internal organs.

Why is the pathogen considered one of the most dangerous in the world? Anthrax bacteria enter a person through damaged areas of the skin, and can also penetrate the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, possibly through the gastrointestinal tract, which is much less common.

In the place where the penetration occurred, a primary complex of lesions develops - a carbuncle. This is a focus of inflammation with elements of necrosis or tissue death involving adjacent lymph nodes(lymphadenitis).

Inflammation of the lymph nodes occurs due to the fact that blood cells try to cope with the anthrax pathogen and deliver them here, but the result turns out to be the opposite. All primary effects leading to tissue damage occur due to the release of exotoxin. Thus, the cutaneous form of anthrax develops more often.

Septic anthrax most often occurs when the pathogen enters through digestive system or through Airways. Blood poisoning is the most unfavorable sign regarding human life.

From the moment the infection enters the bloodstream, it spreads throughout internal organs, while affecting:

all membranes of the heart;
digestive organs and lymphatic system, her surroundings;
lungs;
brain.

The massive penetration of bacteria into all body systems and the release of toxins leads to inflammation and cell death.

Symptoms of anthrax

This is one of the fastest growing infections. The incubation period for anthrax ranges from several hours to three days.

There are two main forms of the disease:

localized or cutaneous;
septic.

In almost 98–99% of cases, the cutaneous (carbunculous) form of anthrax develops. How is it different?

In addition to the general signs of the carbunculous form of anthrax, there are some other features of its course.

This form, when it develops on the face and mucous membranes, often affects the upper respiratory tract, which may result in suffocation and lightning death.
One of the distinctive prognostic symptoms of a carbuncle is trembling, reminiscent of jelly vibrations when tapped with a special percussion hammer. This symptom is called Stefansky's.

Symptoms of other forms of localized anthrax

In addition to the carbunculous form of anthrax, there are several other variants of the course of this type of disease.

What other types of anthrax are there? This is a generalized or septic form of the disease.

Signs of the generalized form of anthrax include:

Pulmonary edema, inflammation of the brain, peritonitis and damage to the heart muscle lead to immediate death.

Classification of anthrax by severity

The septic form is always characterized by a severe course. Localized has its own classification. In 80% of cases, these are mild and moderate forms.

The prognosis for cutaneous anthrax in most cases is favorable and can result in complete recovery. With the development of sepsis and the involvement of other organs and systems, the disease ends in death.

Diagnosis of infection

Clinical, epidemiological and laboratory data play a role in the correct diagnosis. During the development of an anthrax epidemic, the diagnosis is not difficult to make. In other cases, one has to rely on clinical data and laboratory diagnostics.

Bacteriological and bacterioscopic methods for detecting the pathogen play a role in making a diagnosis.

The material for research in the skin form of the disease is the discharge of the boil; with pulmonary - sputum; generalized - blood. Any biological fluid is examined in a special room to avoid possible infection health workers. Gram-stained smears are prepared, then cell cultures are inoculated onto special media. After a few hours, bacterial growth is assessed.
Diagnosis of anthrax using the bacteriological method occurs by infection guinea pigs or laboratory mice.
Immunofluorescent methods are used.
Nowadays, allergological diagnostics of anthrax are also used. To do this, a person is injected subcutaneously with Anthraxin; if the result is positive, changes appear on the skin already on the fifth day.

Treatment of anthrax in humans

Due to the pronounced effect of the toxin on tissue, even timely treatment does not guarantee full recovery. Therefore, this infection is classified as particularly dangerous.

The care plan for an anthrax patient includes:

his complete isolation in specialized wards of the infectious diseases hospital;
his lack of contact with loved ones;
a gentle diet for the entire period of treatment;
regular monitoring of the patient by medical staff;
maintaining the functioning of all systems and organs.

Treatment of anthrax in humans is carried out according to the following points.

Treatment of anthrax is carried out only in a hospital under the supervision of doctors. Even light form infection is not a reason to prescribe a home regimen.

Prevention

State sanitary and epidemiological services are involved in the prevention of anthrax in people. veterinarians. The first stage is nonspecific prophylaxis diseases.

Vaccinating people against anthrax

Specific prevention and the main way to reduce morbidity among people is through anthrax vaccination. Because of large quantity deaths After the development and severe course of the infection, it became necessary to search modern methods disease prevention. A vaccine against anthrax was created.

There are currently three vaccine options in use:

live anthrax vaccine, dry, which is used cutaneously and intradermally;
inactivated vaccine;
The combined anthrax vaccine is available in the form of injections and dry matter.

Live and combined drugs are used in Russia.

The anthrax vaccine is administered once. There are other options for administering the drug, depending on the type of vaccine. For example, for the first time they are vaccinated at intervals of 20 or 30 days. 2 weeks after this, the person develops immunity against the disease. But vaccines protect only for a short period of time - just a year.

Indications for vaccination

Vaccination of people against anthrax is carried out in foci of infection. But prophylaxis is not carried out for everyone who wants it, but only for certain categories of people.

Who is at risk for developing infection?

Laboratory workers involved in vaccine development or human and animal research in areas where anthrax occurs frequently.
Everyone involved in the livestock industry: slaughterhouse workers, veterinarians.
People who often come into contact with animals are forest rangers.
Working in leather and wool processing plants.

Of course, not every region vaccinates all persons from the above categories. Prevention is carried out only in areas where cases or outbreaks of infection have been recorded. That is, the vaccine is administered to people from areas at risk for anthrax. They can also vaccinate people sent to these areas, provided that their work is also related to animals.

Vaccinations are carried out starting at the age of 14. Vaccination is done either before the season of infection development, or in in case of emergency at the time of infection.

Body reaction

How is the vaccine tolerated? Mostly not bad. Local or general reactions of the body are possible after its administration:

local includes inflammation or redness where the drug was injected;
General symptoms include weakness, malaise, possibly a slight increase in body temperature and even a slight increase in local lymph nodes.

Contraindications

Contraindications to vaccination against anthrax are as follows:

do not vaccinate if there was a reaction to the previous administration;
Vaccination is contraindicated for people with connective tissue diseases;
with severe skin diseases;
age up to 14 years and over 60.

Anthrax bacteria can easily penetrate the human body and cause disease. If the immune system is weakened and the number of bacteria is critical, the disease develops quickly in a person. Until the active manifestation of anthrax, all surrounding people are at risk. Despite great amount In our time, it is not always possible to cope with an infection with antibacterial drugs, because most of them do not have time to act on bacteria. Therefore, the main treatment is prevention.