Surgical Mask, Soap and Water Best Prevention for Anthrax

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients,  Jan, 2002  

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Speaking to a packed, overflowing auditorium of Osteopathic physicians attending their annual meeting at the Convention Center in San Diego in October, Ronald Blanck, DO. Former Surgeon General of the US Army and Captain John Malone, MD of the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, described how to recognize and treat a bioterrorist attack.

Anthrax is described as the most lethal of all potential biological weapons. An example given was that if 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of spores were released from an aircraft flying over a parade route, such as the Rose Bowl parade - up to one million people could become infected. The most practical protection from air-borne spores is the use of a disposable surgical type face mask when mingling in large crowds of people.

Anthrax spores tend to attach to the hairy parts of the body but can easily be removed from the skin and hair with soap and water. If exposed to anthrax, a shower or bath and changing and cleaning your clothes as soon as possible is the most important immediate step for prevention in these circumstances.

Since pets and other animals may develop anthrax as well, they too should be given a soap and water bath as soon as possible. This is necessary to both prevent the animal from becoming ill but also to prevent secondary spreading of the disease to humans.

The next step to preventing the development of the disease is the use of one of three antibiotics for up to 60 days. Anthrax spores can remain in the lungs for prolonged periods of time and can turn into an active infection whenever the immune system weakens. During those 60 days of taking antibiotics, the body has a chance to develop immunity and this immunity is needed to stop the disease process.

After exposure, any of three antibiotics can be used for prevention: Cipro 500mg; Doxycycline 100mg; or Amoxicillin 875mg taken every 12 hours for 60 days.

Lung infections of anthrax seem to affect older men more than others and especially those with emphysema, chronic bronchitis or other previous lung disorders. These people especially should begin treatment immediately if exposure occurs.

When anthrax enters the lungs, specialized house cleaning types of cells called macrophages gobble the spores up. Usually these macrophages are able to kill micro-organisms that enter the lung but in the case of anthrax, the macrophage is not able to mount an effective attack to kill the spores without the help of antibiotics and a heightened immune system. Speaking from the audience, Dr. David Steenblock of The Brain Therapeutics Medical Clinic in Mission Viejo, California asked if hyperbaric oxygen would be helpful in the treatment of anthrax because of its ability to augment the activity of antibiotics, decrease tissue swelling, oxygenate the tissues and to help stimulate the lungs' defenses. Both Dr. Blanck and Malone agreed that hyperbaric oxygen should be considered in these cases.

COPYRIGHT 2002 The Townsend Letter Group
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group