Anthrax
What is anthrax?
Anthrax is a serious disease caused by a one-celled bacterial organism
known as Bacillus anthracis. This bacterium forms spores, a
resistant form that lies dormant until the right conditions exist for
them to germinate and produce vegetative cells.
How is Anthrax spread?
There is no evidence that anthrax spreads from one person to another.
Instead, it is most commonly spread when humans handle products from
infected animals, breathe in anthrax spores from infected animal
products, or eat undercooked meat from infected animals. In recent
years, anthrax has also been used as a destructive weapon, when in 2001,
a powder containing anthrax spores was sent to targeted individuals
through the U.S. Postal System.
What should a breastfeeding woman do if she has been exposed to Anthrax?
For a breastfeeding mother who has been exposed to Bacillus
anthracis spores, she and her child’s health care provider will need
to consider the effectiveness of recommended medications for the
prophylaxis or treatment of anthrax, the safety of the medications for
the infant, as well as the benefits of breastfeeding to both mother and
child.
If the strain of anthrax is susceptible to penicillin, physicians may
prescribe amoxicillin if no other contraindications to the mother are
present. Amoxicillin is among those drugs categorized as safe for use
with infants. The American Academy of Pediatrics also considers
ciprofloxacin and tetracyclines (which include doxycycline) to be
compatible with breastfeeding because infants absorb only a small amount
of either drug. However, little is known about the safety of long-term
use of these medications.
Reference:
CDC. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) November 16, 2001,
50(45):1014–1016.
For more information on Anthrax, visit
CDC's Emergency
Preparedness and Response section on Anthrax, or call the CDC public response hotline at (888) 246-2675 in English;
(888) 246-2857 en Español or (866) 874-2646 (TTY).
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Page last updated: May 22, 2007
Content Source: Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion