Anthrax-We are our own worst enemy

Figure courtesy of the CDC

Last week we talked about how vials of smallpox were found in a FDA laboratory, showing that even labs are guilty of having that old, over-crowded stockroom that's in every office complex. And here's another reminder that labs are as prone to human error and politics as any office-the CDC has released an after-action report regarding employees' exposure to anthrax. For those that are just tuning in, extracts and cultures of Bacillus anthracis (anthrax) in the Bratt BSL*-3 lab were sent to different laboratories on June 6th and June 12th with a potential for aerosolization.

Figure courtesy of CDC

This is not the first time B. anthracis has been in the news. The bacteria is a serious infectious disease that can be found naturally in soil and commonly affects domestic and wild animals. It is rare in developed nations where veterinary public health programs vaccinate livestock against it. Those few who get sick from it are infected from breathing in the spores, eating food or drinking contaminated water, or from spores in a scrape on the skin. Other members of the Bacillus genus (and there are several) can be non-pathogenic or pathogenic, but are none are as virulent as anthrax.

Photomicrograph of Bacillus anthracis using Gram-stain technique
Image courtesy of CDC

The type of illness depends on the type of anthrax. Cutaneous anthrax causes a group of small blisters or bumps that may itch and/or a painless skin sore with a black center. Inhaled anthrax spores result in fever/chills, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, confusion or dizziness, cough, nausea/vomiting/stomach pains, headache, drenching sweats, extreme tiredness, and body aches. Gastrointestinal anthrax symptoms are fever/chills, swelling of neck or neck glands, sore throat, painful swallowing, hoarseness, bloody diarrhea, headache, face flush, red eyes, stomach pain, fainting, and swelling of the abdomen. Injected anthrax is similar to cutaneous, but quicker and harder to recognize and treat.

While the incident was unfortunate, none of the staff became ill from anthrax and it triggered the development of new safety protocols. And, of course, none of it escaped the CDC.

Figure Courtesy of CDC

*BioSafety Level: the application of precautions that reduce a laboratorian's risk of exposure to infectious microbes and limit work space contamination. There are four levels, and each has specific containment controls of biological agents based on infectivity, severity, transmissibility, and work conducted.