Cutaneous Anthrax in Turkey: A Review of 32 Cases

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases Vol. 34; no. 6; pp. 413 - 416
• Main Authors: Öncül, O., Özsoy, M. F., Gul, H. C., Koçak, N., Cavuslu, S., Pahsa, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Informa UK Ltd 2002; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Anthrax - drug therapy; Anthrax - epidemiology; Anthrax - physiopathology; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Bacillus anthracis - drug effects; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the skin; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Female; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Middle Aged; Penicillins - therapeutic use; Rural Population; Turkey - epidemiology; Asia; Turkey; Infection; Human; Symptomatology; Skin disease; Anthrax; Bacteriosis; Skin; Bibliographic review
• ISSN: 0036-5548; 1651-1980
• DOI: 10.1080/00365540110080610

Anthrax, caused by the Gram-positive, rod-shaped, spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis, is rarely seen in industrialized nations but is common in developing countries. Cutaneous anthrax accounts for 95% of cases and usually develops on exposed sites. This study reviews the clinical and laboratory findings of 32 patients diagnosed with cutaneous anthrax over a 4-y period in the eastern part of Turkey. All patients had a history of direct contact with infected animals. The patients, aged 6-72 y, comprised 17 (53%) males and 15 (47%) females. The most frequent localization site of skin lesions was the hands and fingers (31 patients), whereas the suborbital part of the face was invaded in 1 patient. The diagnosis was made as a result of typical clinical lesions, direct microscopy or bacterial isolation. All but 2 patients were successfully treated with penicillin; these other 2 patients were treated initially with sulbactam-ampicillin. All patients, including the patient with suborbital anthrax, were cured.