Prepared for:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

540 Gaither Road

Rockville, MD 20850

www.ahrq.gov

Contract No. 290-02-0017

Prepared by:

Stanford UniversityUCSF Evidence-based Practice Center, Stanford, CA

Investigators

Dena M. Bravata, M.D., M.S.

Ewen Wang, M.D.

Jon-Erik Holty, M.D., M.S.

Robyn Lewis, M.A.

Paul H. Wise, M.D., M.P.H.

Smita Nayak, M.D.

Hau Liu, M.D., M.B.A., M.P.H.

Kathryn M. McDonald, M.M.

Douglas K. Owens, M.D., M.S.

AHRQ Publication No. 06-E013

August 2006

This document is in the public domain and may be used and reprinted without permission except those copyrighted materials noted for which further reproduction is prohibited without the specific permission of copyright holders.

Suggested Citation:

Bravata DM, Wang E, Holty J-E, Lewis R, Wise PH, Nayak S, Liu H, McDonald KM, Owens DK. Pediatric Anthrax: Implications for Bioterrorism Preparedness. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment No. 141. (Prepared by Stanford UniversityUCSF Evidence-based Practice Center under Contract No. 290-02-0017.) AHRQ Publication No. 06-E013. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. August 2006.

This report is based on research conducted by the Stanford-UCSF Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) under contract to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Rockville, MD (Contract No. 290-02-0017). The findings and conclusions in this document are those of the authors who are responsible for its content; and do not necessarily represent the views of AHRQ. No statement in this report should be construed as an official position of the AHRQ or of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The information in this report is intended to help clinicians, employers, policymakers, and others make informed decisions about the provision of health care services. This report is intended as a reference and not as a substitute for clinical judgment.

This report may be used, in whole or in part, as the basis for development of clinical practice guidelines and other quality enhancement tools, or as a basis for reimbursement and coverage policies. AHRQ or U.S. Department of Health and Human Services endorsement of such derivative products may not be stated or implied.

The investigators have no relevant financial interests in the report. The investigators have no employment, consultancies, honoraria, or stock ownership or options, or royalties from any organization or entity with a financial interest or financial conflict with the subject matter discussed in the report.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Mike Leavitt, Secretary

Office of Public Health and Science

Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S., Surgeon General of the United States

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D., Director