Carrada-Bravo T

Language: Spanish
References: 0
Page: 233-248
PDF size: 1145.49 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Human anthrax is an often fatal bacterial infection that occurs when Bacillus anthracis endospores enter the body through abrasions in the skin or by inhalation or ingestion. It is a zoonosis to which most mammals, especially grazing herbivores, are considered susceptible. Cutaneous anthrax, the most common clinical form, is usually curable. A small percentage of skin infections become systemic, and these may be fatal. Pulmonary infections resulting from inhalation of endospores has a mortality rate approaching 100 percent, with death occurring within a few days after the onset of symptoms. Systemic anthrax involves massive bacteremia and toxemia with hypotension, shock and sudden death, believed to result from the action of the exotoxin secreted by anthrax bacilli. The aim of this paper is to familiarize physicians with the current understanding of diagnosis, pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of anthrax.