Bacillus Anthracis: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Bacillus anthracis is the bacterium that causes anthrax. This infection can cause symptoms such as body aches, blisters or sores on the skin, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, chest pain, and difficulty breathing.

This bacterium is found in soil as spores. These spores can cause illness when they are inhaled, ingested, or come into direct contact with the skin.

Treatment for anthrax is managed in the hospital by an infectious disease specialist. It should be started as soon as symptoms appear and usually involves antibiotics to eliminate the bacteria and prevent serious complications.

Main symptoms

The main symptoms of anthrax are:

• Blisters that are not painful

• Sores or ulcers on the skin when the blisters break open

• Painful swollen lymph nodes

• Bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps

• Nausea and vomiting with blood

• Difficulty breathing

• Coughing up blood

In addition, anthrax can cause flu-like symptoms, such as fever, sore throat, body aches, or extreme tiredness.

Anthrax symptoms can vary depending on how the infection occurred, such as inhaling the bacteria, eating contaminated food, or having direct skin contact with the bacteria.

If symptoms of anthrax are present, you should go to the hospital immediately to start treatment and prevent serious, life-threatening complications.

Confirming a diagnosis

Anthrax is diagnosed by a primary care provider or infectious disease specialist based on symptoms, a physical exam, and a detailed history, including exposure to animal products, contact between open wounds and soil, or laboratory work.

Depending on the symptoms, the doctor may order tests such as a complete blood count (CBC), stool test, skin biopsy, chest X-ray, chest CT scan, or lumbar puncture (spinal tap).

Possible causes

Anthrax is caused by spores of the bacterium Bacillus anthracis that enter the body and release toxins, leading to symptoms.

Bacillus anthracis infection is more common in people who live in agricultural or rural areas, military personnel, and people who work with animals, such as veterinarians, farmers, laboratory workers, or wool industry workers.

How it spreads

Anthrax can be transmitted in the following ways:

• Exposure to infected animals, such as cattle, cows, calves, sheep, horses, or goats

• Eating meat from contaminated animals, even if it has been properly cooked, as Bacillus anthracis spores are resistant to high temperatures

• Inhaling spores found in the environment, especially in soil

• Direct skin contact, especially through cuts or wounds, with contaminated soil or by handling animals or animal products contaminated with Bacillus anthracis

• Using injectable drugs with needles or substances contaminated with the bacteria

Although it is rare, anthrax can also be transmitted from person to person through contact with the skin sores of an infected person. According to the CDC, all types of anthrax can spread throughout the body and become fatal if not treated with antibiotics.

Another form of anthrax transmission is bioterrorism, in which bacterial spores are released into the air. This is considered a type of biological weapon and can involve extremely lethal strains.

Main types

The main types of anthrax are:

1. Cutaneous anthrax

Cutaneous anthrax is caused by skin contact with animals or animal products contaminated with Bacillus anthracis spores.

This type of anthrax usually starts with a small, itchy, red swelling on the skin that looks similar to an insect bite. A blister may then form in the area, which can break open and develop into sores, ulcers, or scabs on the skin.

In some cases, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and headache may also occur.

2. Gastrointestinal anthrax

Gastrointestinal anthrax can occur after eating meat contaminated with Bacillus anthracis spores.

Symptoms of gastrointestinal anthrax include vomiting and bloody diarrhea, swelling in the neck, sore throat, and abdominal pain.

3. Inhalation anthrax

Inhalation anthrax is the most severe type. It occurs when Bacillus anthracis spores are inhaled, settle in the lungs, and multiply in the tracheobronchial lymph nodes.

The first symptoms of this type of anthrax are similar to the flu. However, they can quickly progress to difficulty breathing, chest pain, high fever, coughing up blood, severe sepsis, and cardiopulmonary collapse.

It is important for anthrax to be diagnosed as soon as the first symptoms appear, especially in cases of inhalation anthrax. This allows treatment to begin quickly to neutralize and reduce the amount of toxins produced by the bacteria, helping to prevent complications.

4. Injection anthrax

Injection anthrax occurs when needles or drugs contaminated with bacterial spores are used, causing redness and swelling at the injection site.

This type of anthrax can quickly progress to shock, multiple organ failure, or meningitis, for example.

Treatment options

Anthrax treatment should be done in the hospital under the guidance of an infectious disease specialist as soon as symptoms appear. This helps eliminate the bacteria, neutralize toxins, and prevent complications.

Antibiotics are usually recommended, such as penicillins, which may be combined with other antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin or doxycycline. According to the CDC, anthrax treatment may involve antibiotics, antitoxins, and supportive medical care, depending on the type of anthrax and the severity of the infection.

In cases of inhalation anthrax, medicines that neutralize the toxin produced and released by the bacteria may also be recommended, such as raxibacumab or obiltoxaximab. These medicines can help prevent disease progression and relieve symptoms.

Possible complications

The main complications of anthrax include meningitis, septic shock, multiple organ failure, inflammation and bleeding in the chest cavity, or severe gastrointestinal bleeding.

For this reason, you should go to the hospital immediately if symptoms of anthrax appear, so treatment can be started and life-threatening complications can be prevented.