Untreated infections may spread to regional lymph nodes and to the bloodstream with an overwhelming septicemia. The meninges can become involved. The lesion evolves through typical local changes even after the initiation of antibiotic therapy. An oropharyngeal form of primary disease has been described. Infectious agent Bacillus anthracis, a Gram-positive, encapsulated, spore forming, nonmotile rod.
Anthrax is an infrequent and sporadic human infection in most industrialized countries.
I Page 21 bone meal. Environmental events such as floods may provoke epizootics. Anthrax is considered a leading potential agent in bioterrorism or biowarfare and, as such, could present in epidemiologicaily unusual circumstances. On exposure to the air, the vegetative forms sporulate, and the spores of B. anthracis, which are very resistant to adverse environmental conditions and disinfection, may remain viable in contaminated soil for many years. B. anthracis is a soil commensal in many parts of the world.