Welder’s Anthrax: A Review of an Occupational Disease
Since 1997, nine cases of severe pneumonia, caused by species within the <i>B. cereus</i> group and with a presentation similar to that of inhalation anthrax, were reported in seemingly immunocompetent metalworkers, with most being welders. In seven of the cases, isolates were found to h...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/4/402 |
| _version_ | 1827627347384205312 |
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| author | Marie A. de Perio Katherine A. Hendricks Chad H. Dowell William A. Bower Nancy C. Burton Patrick Dawson Caroline A. Schrodt Johanna S. Salzer Chung K. Marston Karl Feldmann Alex R. Hoffmaster James M. Antonini |
| author_facet | Marie A. de Perio Katherine A. Hendricks Chad H. Dowell William A. Bower Nancy C. Burton Patrick Dawson Caroline A. Schrodt Johanna S. Salzer Chung K. Marston Karl Feldmann Alex R. Hoffmaster James M. Antonini |
| author_sort | Marie A. de Perio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Since 1997, nine cases of severe pneumonia, caused by species within the <i>B. cereus</i> group and with a presentation similar to that of inhalation anthrax, were reported in seemingly immunocompetent metalworkers, with most being welders. In seven of the cases, isolates were found to harbor a plasmid similar to the <i>B. anthracis</i> pXO1 that encodes anthrax toxins. In this paper, we review the literature on the <i>B. cereus</i> group spp. pneumonia among welders and other metalworkers, which we term welder’s anthrax. We describe the epidemiology, including more information on two cases of welder’s anthrax in 2020. We also describe the health risks associated with welding, potential mechanisms of infection and pathological damage, prevention measures according to the hierarchy of controls, and clinical and public health considerations. Considering occupational risk factors and controlling exposure to welding fumes and gases among workers, according to the hierarchy of controls, should help prevent disease transmission in the workplace. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:11:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d621f23fb9f24ef7adfa00f8f02f3d54 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:11:00Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-d621f23fb9f24ef7adfa00f8f02f3d542023-11-30T21:41:59ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172022-03-0111440210.3390/pathogens11040402Welder’s Anthrax: A Review of an Occupational DiseaseMarie A. de Perio0Katherine A. Hendricks1Chad H. Dowell2William A. Bower3Nancy C. Burton4Patrick Dawson5Caroline A. Schrodt6Johanna S. Salzer7Chung K. Marston8Karl Feldmann9Alex R. Hoffmaster10James M. Antonini11Office of the Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USADivision of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USAOffice of the Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USADivision of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USADivision of Field Studies and Engineering, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USAOffice of Science, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USADivision of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USADivision of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USADivision of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USADivision of Field Studies and Engineering, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USADivision of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USAHealth Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26505, USASince 1997, nine cases of severe pneumonia, caused by species within the <i>B. cereus</i> group and with a presentation similar to that of inhalation anthrax, were reported in seemingly immunocompetent metalworkers, with most being welders. In seven of the cases, isolates were found to harbor a plasmid similar to the <i>B. anthracis</i> pXO1 that encodes anthrax toxins. In this paper, we review the literature on the <i>B. cereus</i> group spp. pneumonia among welders and other metalworkers, which we term welder’s anthrax. We describe the epidemiology, including more information on two cases of welder’s anthrax in 2020. We also describe the health risks associated with welding, potential mechanisms of infection and pathological damage, prevention measures according to the hierarchy of controls, and clinical and public health considerations. Considering occupational risk factors and controlling exposure to welding fumes and gases among workers, according to the hierarchy of controls, should help prevent disease transmission in the workplace.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/4/402<i>Bacillus</i>welderwelder’s anthrax |
| spellingShingle | Marie A. de Perio Katherine A. Hendricks Chad H. Dowell William A. Bower Nancy C. Burton Patrick Dawson Caroline A. Schrodt Johanna S. Salzer Chung K. Marston Karl Feldmann Alex R. Hoffmaster James M. Antonini Welder’s Anthrax: A Review of an Occupational Disease Pathogens <i>Bacillus</i> welder welder’s anthrax |
| title | Welder’s Anthrax: A Review of an Occupational Disease |
| title_full | Welder’s Anthrax: A Review of an Occupational Disease |
| title_fullStr | Welder’s Anthrax: A Review of an Occupational Disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | Welder’s Anthrax: A Review of an Occupational Disease |
| title_short | Welder’s Anthrax: A Review of an Occupational Disease |
| title_sort | welder s anthrax a review of an occupational disease |
| topic | <i>Bacillus</i> welder welder’s anthrax |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/4/402 |
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