Anthrax Postexposure Prophylaxis in Postal Workers, Connecticut, 2001
After inhalational anthrax was diagnosed in a Connecticut woman on November 20, 2001, postexposure prophylaxis was recommended for postal workers at the regional mail facility serving the patient’s area. Although environmental testing at the facility yielded negative results, subsequent testing conf...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2002-10-01
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| Series: | Emerging Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/8/10/02-0346_article |
| _version_ | 1819237100241813504 |
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| author | Jennifer L. Williams Stephanie S. Noviello Kevin S. Griffith Heather Wurtzel Jennifer Hamborsky Joseph F. Perz Ian T. Williams James L. Hadler David L. Swerdlow Renee Ridzon |
| author_facet | Jennifer L. Williams Stephanie S. Noviello Kevin S. Griffith Heather Wurtzel Jennifer Hamborsky Joseph F. Perz Ian T. Williams James L. Hadler David L. Swerdlow Renee Ridzon |
| author_sort | Jennifer L. Williams |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | After inhalational anthrax was diagnosed in a Connecticut woman on November 20, 2001, postexposure prophylaxis was recommended for postal workers at the regional mail facility serving the patient’s area. Although environmental testing at the facility yielded negative results, subsequent testing confirmed the presence of Bacillus anthracis. We distributed questionnaires to 100 randomly selected postal workers within 20 days of initial prophylaxis. Ninety-four workers obtained antibiotics, 68 of whom started postexposure prophylaxis and 21 discontinued. Postal workers who stopped or never started taking prophylaxis cited as reasons disbelief regarding anthrax exposure, problems with adverse events, and initial reports of negative cultures. Postal workers with adverse events reported predominant symptoms of gastrointestinal distress and headache. The influence of these concerns on adherence suggests that communication about risks of acquiring anthrax, education about adverse events, and careful management of adverse events are essential elements in increasing adherence. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T13:14:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8a2bed7741b8493bb1b3bde4a3b9943c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1080-6040 1080-6059 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T13:14:57Z |
| publishDate | 2002-10-01 |
| publisher | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Emerging Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-8a2bed7741b8493bb1b3bde4a3b9943c2022-12-21T17:45:37ZengCenters for Disease Control and PreventionEmerging Infectious Diseases1080-60401080-60592002-10-018101133113710.3201/eid0810.020346Anthrax Postexposure Prophylaxis in Postal Workers, Connecticut, 2001Jennifer L. WilliamsStephanie S. NovielloKevin S. GriffithHeather WurtzelJennifer HamborskyJoseph F. PerzIan T. WilliamsJames L. HadlerDavid L. SwerdlowRenee RidzonAfter inhalational anthrax was diagnosed in a Connecticut woman on November 20, 2001, postexposure prophylaxis was recommended for postal workers at the regional mail facility serving the patient’s area. Although environmental testing at the facility yielded negative results, subsequent testing confirmed the presence of Bacillus anthracis. We distributed questionnaires to 100 randomly selected postal workers within 20 days of initial prophylaxis. Ninety-four workers obtained antibiotics, 68 of whom started postexposure prophylaxis and 21 discontinued. Postal workers who stopped or never started taking prophylaxis cited as reasons disbelief regarding anthrax exposure, problems with adverse events, and initial reports of negative cultures. Postal workers with adverse events reported predominant symptoms of gastrointestinal distress and headache. The influence of these concerns on adherence suggests that communication about risks of acquiring anthrax, education about adverse events, and careful management of adverse events are essential elements in increasing adherence.https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/8/10/02-0346_articleadverse effectsAnthraxBacillus anthracisciprofloxacinConnecticutdoxycycline |
| spellingShingle | Jennifer L. Williams Stephanie S. Noviello Kevin S. Griffith Heather Wurtzel Jennifer Hamborsky Joseph F. Perz Ian T. Williams James L. Hadler David L. Swerdlow Renee Ridzon Anthrax Postexposure Prophylaxis in Postal Workers, Connecticut, 2001 Emerging Infectious Diseases adverse effects Anthrax Bacillus anthracis ciprofloxacin Connecticut doxycycline |
| title | Anthrax Postexposure Prophylaxis in Postal Workers, Connecticut, 2001 |
| title_full | Anthrax Postexposure Prophylaxis in Postal Workers, Connecticut, 2001 |
| title_fullStr | Anthrax Postexposure Prophylaxis in Postal Workers, Connecticut, 2001 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Anthrax Postexposure Prophylaxis in Postal Workers, Connecticut, 2001 |
| title_short | Anthrax Postexposure Prophylaxis in Postal Workers, Connecticut, 2001 |
| title_sort | anthrax postexposure prophylaxis in postal workers connecticut 2001 |
| topic | adverse effects Anthrax Bacillus anthracis ciprofloxacin Connecticut doxycycline |
| url | https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/8/10/02-0346_article |
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