Bioterrorism. Clinical recognition and primary management.
The recent anthrax attacks in the United States have demonstrated the reality of bioterrorist threats as well as the need for preparedness and planning to mount a successful response to such events. Medical practitioners have a key role in responding to bioterrorist activity because they can contribute to the timely recognition of an event and to the mitigation of morbidity resulting from a bioterrorist attack. The medical community needs to become familiar with how to recognize and manage diseases produced by the biologic agents that might be used by terrorists. This review summarizes the microbiological and clinical aspects of the agents of anthrax, smallpox, plague, and tularemia, which are all considered likely bioterrorist weapons.
Division of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA.
John A
JA
Branda
Kathryn
K
Ruoff
D000881:Anthrax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000472:pathogenicity; D023482:Bioterrorism; D005604:Francisella tularensis / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D010930:Plague / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012899:Smallpox / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D014406:Tularemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012901:Variola virus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015010:Yersinia pestis / Q000472:pathogenicity