Details:

Alternative Title:
Emerg Infect Dis
Publisher's site:
http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid2007.131764
Personal Author:
Abbara, Aula; Brooks, Tim; Taylor, Graham P.; Nolan, Marianne; Donaldson, Hugo; ... More +
Abbara, Aula; Brooks, Tim; Taylor, Graham P.; Nolan, Marianne; Donaldson, Hugo; Manikon, Maribel; Holmes, Alison; Less -
Description:
Outbreaks of serious infections associated with heroin use in persons who inject drugs (PWIDs) occur intermittently and require vigilance and rapid reporting of individual cases. Here, we give a firsthand account of the cases in London during an outbreak of heroin-associated anthrax during 2009-2010 in the United Kingdom. This new manifestation of anthrax has resulted in a clinical manifestation distinct from already recognized forms. During 2012-13, additional cases of heroin-associated anthrax among PWIDs in England and other European countries were reported, suggesting that anthrax-contaminated heroin remains in circulation. Antibacterial drugs used for serious soft tissue infection are effective against anthrax, which may lead to substantial underrecognition of this novel illness. The outbreak in London provides a strong case for ongoing vigilance and the use of serologic testing in diagnosis and serologic surveillance schemes to determine and monitor the prevalence of anthrax exposure in the PWID community.
Subject:
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Adult
Anthrax
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Bacillus Anthracis
Disease Outbreaks
Female
Heroin
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Soft Tissue Infections

Source:
Emerg Infect Dis. 20(7):1115-1122.;
Document Type:
Journal Article;
Place as Subject:
London, England;
Collection(s):
Emerging Infectious Diseases
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:561f0c80218f2b25a2a83dc3d59700070f476a59255833365cc1400c1a3f284e
File Type:

Supporting Files

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