Diagnosis
Seek specialist advice.
Specimens required to confirm the diagnosis:
- swab of exudate -
- for gram staining and culture
- standard universal precautions (gloves, gowns, masks and hand washing) should be adopted to take the samples
- note that lesions become sterile within 24-48 hours of starting effective antibiotic treatment
- skin biopsy - two samples - one for histology, immunocytochemistry and polymerase chain reaction; one for gram staining and culture
- blood - serology, PCR, culture
- respiratory samples including lung aspirates, pleural fluids, or sputum samples (2)
In addition for inhalation anthrax
- chest X-ray: Mediastinal Widening, Pleural Effusion, Pulmonary Infiltrate
- CT Chest if high suspicion and normal Chest X-ray (3)
Reference:
- (1) Dermatology in Practice 2004; 12(3): 10-11.
- (2) Health Protection Agency (HPA) 2010. Anthrax: Guidelines for action in the event of a deliberate release
- (3) Health Protection Agency (HPA).Clinical evaluation and management of persons with possible inhalation anthrax
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