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Gastrointestinal anthrax: clinical experience in 5 cases.
Ghodratollah Maddah1, Abbas Abdollahi, Mehrdad Katebi
1Endoscopic and Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Caspian Journal of Internal Medicine
|September 7, 2013
Summary
Gastrointestinal anthrax, caused by Bacillus anthracis, presents with severe abdominal symptoms after consuming contaminated meat. Early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment are crucial for survival in these intestinal anthrax cases.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Bacillus anthracis causes inhalation, gastrointestinal (GI), and cutaneous anthrax.
- GI anthrax results from consuming meat from infected animals.
- This study details five cases of intestinal anthrax.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a case series of intestinal anthrax.
- To highlight the diagnostic challenges and clinical presentation of GI anthrax.
- To emphasize the importance of prompt treatment for patient survival.
Main Methods:
- Case series of five patients (1 female, 4 males, aged 17-26) with suspected intestinal anthrax.
- Clinical presentation included abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, distention, and leukocytosis.
- Diagnosis confirmed via epidemiological history (ingestion of undercooked sheep liver), microbiological, and pathological testing.
Main Results:
- Exploratory laparotomy revealed characteristic findings: ascites, enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes, and bowel edema.
- Microbiological and pathological analyses confirmed Bacillus anthracis infection.
- Four out of five patients survived after appropriate treatment.
Conclusions:
- Intestinal anthrax presents with rapid onset, fever, ascites, and septicemia.
- Symptoms can mimic acute surgical abdomen, complicating diagnosis.
- Prompt diagnosis, antibiotic therapy, and surgical intervention are critical for survival.
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