title: Tularemia pneumonia.
abstract: Francisella tularensis is a zoonotic infection that can be acquired in multiple ways, including a bite from an arthropod, the handling of animal carcasses, consumption of contaminated food and water, or inhalation of infected particles. The most virulent subspecies of F tularensis is type A, which is almost exclusively seen in North America. Pneumonia can occur in tularemia, as either a primary process from direct inhalation, or as a secondary manifestation of ulceroglandular or typhoidal disease. This article describes the history of this infection, epidemiology, methods of diagnosis and treatment, and its potential as a bioterrorism weapon.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, A2200 MCN, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. lora.thomas@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Lora D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schaffner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023482:Bioterrorism; D005604:Francisella tularensis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology*; D014406:Tularemia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission*; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000635:transmission*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents