Injectional anthrax in a heroin skin-popper.
Anthrax is rare in western Europe but may arise sporadically in people exposed to animal products from endemic areas. A heroin-injecting drug user presented with a severe soft-tissue infection at the injection site, septic shock, and meningitis. A gram-positive endospore-forming aerobic rod was isolated from the soft tissue and cerebrospinal fluid; confirmation of Bacillus anthracis was made by PCR. Since contaminated heroin was the probable source of infection, this case is of concern and warrants surveillance.
Ringertz
S H
SH
Høiby
E A
EA
Jensenius
M
M
Maehlen
J
J
Caugant
D A
DA
Myklebust
A
A
Fossum
K
K
D000881:Anthrax / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000635:transmission*; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D004340:Drug Contamination; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D003932:Heroin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous
D003932:Heroin