title: Injectional anthrax in a heroin skin-popper.
abstract: 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.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ringertz
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Høiby
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jensenius
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maehlen
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Caugant
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Myklebust
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fossum
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D003932:Heroin