Category A toxins Flashcards
Anthrax
Mode of transmission: edospores enter body through abraisions, inhalation, or ingestion (GI) - person to person except for inhalation
Incubation period 1 week up to 2 months
Case fatality 100%
Treatment options: antibiotics (vaccine available in labs and military bases)
Botulism
Mode of transmission: food-borne, infant, and wound all occur naturally; inhalation is not naturally occurring NOT spread person to person
Incubation period: 12-36hours, (rarely 6hr-10days)
Case fatality: 5-10%
CNS depression, dilated or non-reactive pupils, dropoping face, weakness, paralysis, but intact mental state and sensory system, no fever
Tx: antitoxin, supportive care NO VACCINE
Small Pox
Mode of transmission: person to person (contact and droplet)
Incubation period: 12-14 days
Case fatality ~30%
Treatment opportunity: no treatment, vaccine available
Tularemia
Mode of transmission: NOT spread person to person; multiple sources including insect bites, handling ill/dead animals, lab accidents; can live in soil for weeks, airborne is naturally occurring exposure (but rare)
Incubation period: 1-14 days (3-5 typically)
Case fatality ~2%
Treatment: antibiotics (NO VACCINE)
Pneumonic plague
Mode of transmission: bacteria found in rodents and their fleas; spread person to person through droplet (non-aerosolized = bubonic plague) rarely occurs naturally
Incubation period: 1-3 days
Case fatality: 5-10%
Tx: antibiotics (vaccine available but efficacy unknown)
Viral hemorrhagic fever
Mode of transmission: naturally occurring, spread person to person (contact)
Incubation period: 2-21 days (avg 8-10 days)
Case fatality rate: 40-50%
Treatment opportunity: supportive, no treatment or vaccine
Which have fever?
All except botulism
Which have chest discomfort?
Anthrax and plague
Which have cough?
Anthrax, plague, Tularemia
Which have myalgia (pain in muscles)?
Anthrax, Tularemia, small pox, VHF
Which have weakness/malaise?
All except botulism
Which have paralysis
only botulism
