Anthrax

Anthrax is a serious, acute zoonotic infection caused by the spore-forming, Gram-positive bacterium *Bacillus anthracis* It most commonly affects individuals exposed to infected animals, contaminated animal products, or aerosolized spores, manifesting primarily as cutaneous, inhalational, gastrointestinal, or injectional disease The clinical hallmark involves local tissue destruction, such as painless, necrotic skin eschars with extensive surrounding edema, or fulminant systemic disease marked b...

It most commonly affects individuals exposed to infected animals, contaminated animal products, or aerosolized spores, manifesting primarily as cutaneous, inhalational, gastrointestinal, or injectional disease

The clinical hallmark involves local tissue destruction, such as painless, necrotic skin eschars with extensive surrounding edema, or fulminant systemic disease marked by hemorrhagic mediastinitis, severe sepsis, and toxin-mediated shock

Pathophysiologically, dormant spores germinate within host macrophages, leading to bacterial dissemination and the secretion of tripartite exotoxins—composed of protective antigen, lethal factor, and edema factor—that induce massive fluid extravasation, cellular necrosis, and cardiovascular collapse

Pathophysiologically, dormant spores germinate within host macrophages, leading to bacterial dissemination and the secretion of tripartite exotoxins—composed of protective antigen, lethal factor, and edema factor—that induce massive fluid extravasation, cellular necrosis, and cardiovascular collapse