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Frequently Asked Questions
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| Prevention |
| Is anthrax contagious? |
| Do I need antibiotics if I have been in the same room where an anthrax letter was opened? |
| Should I be vaccinated for anthrax? |
| Is the vaccine safe? |
| Can anthrax released in a bioterrorism attack be reaerosolized to cause disease? |
| Screening |
| If I think that I have been exposed to anthrax, are nasal swabs useful in diagnosis? |
| Is there a blood test that can tell me I have been exposed to anthrax before I get ill? |
| Can surface swabs be used to determine if a surface is contaminated with anthrax? |
| Diagnosis |
| What are the most common symptoms of the different forms of anthrax? |
| Are there specific tests that can help provide an early diagnosis? |
| Is it possible to diagnose anthrax before symptoms occur in people potentially exposed to a terrorist release? |
| Consultation for Diagnosis |
| Should a dermatologist be consulted for cutaneous anthrax? |
| Should an infectious disease specialist be consulted if anthrax is suspected? |
| Should a pulmonary physician be consulted if inhalational anthrax is suspected? |
| Hospitalization |
| Should all patients with anthrax be hospitalized? |
| How long should patients with inhalational anthrax remain in the hospital? |
| Are patients hospitalized with anthrax a risk to other patients? |
| Non-drug Therapy |
| Under what conditions should a thoracentesis be done? |
| When should a chest tube be placed for inhalational anthrax? |
| Drug Therapy |
| What is the drug regimen for severe anthrax disease? |
| What combination of drugs should be used to treat inhalational anthrax? |
| Can anthrax be treated with oral antibiotics? |
| What is the duration of treatment for anthrax? |
| Should anthrax vaccine be given along with antibiotics for treatment prophylaxis? |
| When should prophylactic antibiotics, vaccine, or both be given? |
| Patient Education |
| Was the patient inadvertently exposed to any powdery material via a letter or package? |
| Did the patient receive any threatening materials? |
| Do any of the patient's friends, family, or colleagues at work have a similar illness? |
| Consultation for Management |
| Should an infectious diseases specialist monitor antibiotic treatment of anthrax? |
| Should a pulmonologist monitor treatment of inhalational anthrax? |
| Should a dermatologist monitor treatment of cutaneous anthrax? |
| Follow-up |
| How long should antibiotics be given? |
| Does the length of administration of antibiotics change if vaccine is also administered? |
| Will there be any long-term effects of infection anthrax? |
| Does infection with anthrax prevent against future infection with anthrax? |
Anthrax
