RATIONALE ANTIBIOTICS PROPHYLAXIS AGAINST INHALATION ANTHRAX

File: 120396_sep96_decls28_0002.txt
Page: 0002
Total Pages: 8

Subject: RATIONALE ANTIBIOTICS PROPHYLAXIS AGAINST INHALATION ANTHRAX    

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box ID: BX003203

Folder Title: RATIONALE FOR ANTIBIOTICS IN PROPHYLAXIS AGAINST INHALATION ANTHRAX                             

Document Number:          1

Folder SEQ  #:          5




                                 @%ILIURL I     UNCLASSIFIED
              The vast majority of anthrax strains are sensitive
         to penicillin. Historically, this drug has been considered the
         "trsatmant of choice,' for all forms of anthrax; tetracycline,
         arythromycifti and chloramphanicol have boon recommended in
         V"icillin-allargic patients. Rare penicillin-resistant strains
         exist naturally, however, and one has been recovered from a fatal
         human case. In addition, it is not difficult to induce
         resistance to both penicillin and tetracycline through laboratory
         manipulation of anthrax bacilli. Ciprofloxacin is a relatively
         now antibiotic with a novel mechanism of action (DNA gyrase
         inhibitor). To date, all strains of anthrax tested have proven
         quite sensitive (1.2). Because this is a relatively now drug,
         and because of its unusual mechanism of action, it is unlikely
         that resistance has been "engineered', at this time. Therefore,
         ciprefloxacino a drug with few recognized side effects, a
         convenient oral dosing schedule (twice daily), and sxcallant
         activity both la vitro and In @    offers a good option for
         antibiotic use in countering possible infection with this
         organism. Many of theme maze arguments can be made for
         doxycycline as well; however, the methods for ''engineering"
         resistance to tetracyclines are simple and readily available in
         the open literature. This combined with recognized
         PbLctqqOngitiVity ML%* doxy@lina A I;Arandary option.


              B: Utility of antibiotics in cutaneous anthrax

              Published series confirm that cutaneous anthrax is readily


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                                  L t) It L I

                                 UNCLASSIFIED

Document 8 f:/Week-36/BX003203/RATIONALE FOR ANTIBIOTICS IN PROPHYLAXIS AGAINST INHALATION ANTHRAX/rationale antibiotics prophylaxis against inhala:11089615091429
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003203
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = RATIONALE FOR ANTIBIOTICS IN PROPHYLAXIS AGAINST INHALATION ANTHRAX
Folder Seq # = 5
Subject = RATIONALE ANTIBIOTICS PROPHYLAXIS AGAINST INHALA
Document Seq # = 1
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 08-NOV-1996