Anthrax Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Anthrax, including details on bacillus anthracis, contagiousness, exposure, effects.

Inhalational Anthrax.

Frazier AA, Franks TJ, Galvin JR

Deparments of *Radiologic Pathology ‡Pulmonary and Mediastinal Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC †Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.

Inhalational anthrax is a lethal infection acquired from the inhalation of Bacillus anthracis, a pathogen classified as a Category A bioterrorist agent by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The recent 2001 attack in which weaponized spores were delivered by mail to several US cities exposed our vulnerability to bioterrorism, and taught us important lessons in the timely diagnosis of this devastating disease. It is clear that patient mortality is significantly decreased by early recognition and immediate administration of antibiotic therapy. Unfortunately, the nonspecific clinical presentation is often misinterpreted as a flulike illness and confirmatory microbiologic tests may take up to 24 hours. Radiologic manifestations, however, are distinctive and may prove essential in directing appropriate clinical care in the critical early hours of inhalational anthrax.

Published 17 November 2006 in J Thorac Imaging, 21(4): 252-258.
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