title: Biowarfare and bioterrorism.
abstract: Bioterrorism is not only a reality of the times in which we live but bioweapons have been used for centuries. Critical care physicians play a major role in the recognition of and response to a bioterrorism attack. Critical care clinicians must be familiar with the diagnosis and management of the most likely bioterrorism agents, and also be adequately prepared to manage a mass casualty situation. This article reviews the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of the most likely agents of biowarfare and bioterrorism.
authors.affiliation: Royal Canadian Air Force, Department of National Defence, 600 University Avenue, Room 18-232-1, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X5, Canada. michael.christian@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Christian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000881:Anthrax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission; D054045:Biological Warfare Agents; D023482:Bioterrorism; D003047:Coccidioidomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission; D003422:Critical Care; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006482:Hemorrhagic Fevers, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007313:Insecta / Q000472:pathogenicity; D054527:Mass Casualty Incidents; D009676:Noxae / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning; D010930:Plague / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission; D011778:Q Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission; D012899:Smallpox / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning; D014406:Tularemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission
chemical_list: D054045:Biological Warfare Agents; D009676:Noxae; D014118:Toxins, Biological
keywords: Anthrax; Bioterrorism; Bioweapon; Critical care; Mass casualty; Smallpox