Bioterrorism antibiotics

Anthrax

Postexposure Prophylaxis

Patient should be vaccinated at day #0, #14, #28

Cutaneous Anthrax (not systemically ill)

Inhalation or Cutaneous with systemic illness

Pediatric Postexposure Prophylaxis

Pediatric Cutaneous Anthrax (not ill)

  • Same as pediatric postexposure dosing and duration

Pediatric Inhalational or Cutaneous (systemically ill)

  • Ciprofloxacin 15mg/kg IV q12hrs OR
  • Doxycycline 2.2mg/kg IV q12hrs PLUS
  • Imipenem/Cilastatin 1g IV q6h for at least 2wk
  • Imipenem/Cilastatin Neonates >32 wk gestation; 40-75 mg/kg/day IV divided q8-12h for at least 2wk; 1 month and older; 100 mg/kg/day IV divided q6h for at least 2wk
  • Rifampin 600 mg IV q12h for at least 2 wk as part of a multi-drug regimen; Switch to PO abx x60 days total if inhalational exposure
  • Rifampin Neonates >32 wk gestation; 10-20 mg/kg/day IV divided q12-24h for at least 2 wk as part of multi-drug regimen; 1+ mo; 20 mg/kg/day IV divided q12h for at least 2 wk as part of multi-drug regimen; Max: 300 mg/dose
  • Imipenem/Cilastatin 1g IV q6h for at least 2wk
  • Imipenem/Cilastatin Neonates >32 wk gestation; 40-75 mg/kg/day IV divided q8-12h for at least 2wk; 1 month and older; 100 mg/kg/day IV divided q6h for at least 2wk
  • Rifampin 600 mg IV q12h for at least 2 wk as part of a multi-drug regimen; Switch to PO abx x60 days total if inhalational exposure
  • Rifampin Neonates >32 wk gestation; 10-20 mg/kg/day IV divided q12-24h for at least 2 wk as part of multi-drug regimen; 1+ mo; 20 mg/kg/day IV divided q12h for at least 2 wk as part of multi-drug regimen; Max: 300 mg/dose

Botulism

Supportive Care

  • Early ventilatory support
    • Consider intubation when vital capacity <30% predicted or <12cc/kg
  • Wound Managment
    • Early wound debreedment with surgical consult.
    • Also exclude Necrotizing fasciitis and coverage with same broad antibiotic coverage


Foodborne Botulism

  • Equine Serum Botulism Antitoxin
    • only for patients > 1yo
  • Antitoxin obtained through CDC or local Department of Health.


Infant Botulism (<1yo)

  • Human-based Botulism IG 100mg/kg IV x 1 dose (BabyBIG)
    • infusion divided into 25mg/kg/hr IV x 15 min followed by 50mg/kg/hr if no allergic reactions
    • Stop infusion after total of 100mg/kg infused
  • BabyBIG obtained through CDC or local Department of Health


Inhalational Botulism

  • Equine Serum Botulism Antitoxin
    • only for patients > 1yo
  • Antitoxin obtained through CDC or local Department of Health


Wound Botulism

  • Individualize therapy with ID consultant
  • Broad antibiotic coverage same as for Necrotizing fasciitis while awaiting wound cultures

Smallpox

  • IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITIES
  • Vaccine administered up to 3 days post-exposure was effective in preventing infection as well as lessening the severity of the disease if infection occurred [1]

Post-Exposure Prophylaxis

  • Vaccinia Vaccine (administer within 72hrs of exposure)

Active Disease

  • Supportive care and wound care for open lesions
  • Vaccinia Vaccine within the first 72hrs can decrease total disease severity and within 7 days may decrease symptoms
    • Vaccination is not efficacious once the patient has developed rash[2]

Tularemia

Postexposure Prophylaxis

Active Disease

  • Streptomycin 1g (15mg/kg) IM q12hrs daily x 10 days (First line) OR
  • Gentamicin 5mg/kg/day IV/IM once daily x 10 days OR
  • Ciprofloxacin 400mg (15mg/kg) IV q12hrs x 10 days OR
  • Doxycycline 100mg (2.2mg/kg) IV q12hrs x 14 days OR
  • Chloramphenicol 15mg/kg IV q6hrs x 14 days
  • Streptomycin 1g IM q12h x10 days; Maximum dose: 2 g/day (adjust dose based on serum levels)
  • Streptomycin 15mg/kg IM q12h x10 days; Maximum dose: 2 g/day (adjust dose based on serum levels)

Pediatric

  • Gentamicin 2.5mg/kg IV/IM q8hrs x 10 days
  • Doxycycline 2.2mg/kg PO/IV q12hrs x 14 days (max 100mg/dose)
  • Ciprofloxacin 15mg/kg PO/IV q12hrs x 10 days (max 500mg PO / 400mg IV)

Yersinia

Postexposure Prophylaxis

Active Disease

  • Gentamicin 5mg/kg IV/IM once daily x 10 days OR
  • Ciprofloxacin 500mg (20mg/kg) PO q12hrs x 10 days OR
  • Doxycycline 200mg (2.2mg/kg) PO/IV daily
  • Streptomycin 1g IM q12h x10 days; Maximum dose: 2 g/day (adjust dose based on serum levels)
  • Streptomycin 15mg/kg IM q12h x10 days; Maximum dose: 2 g/day (adjust dose based on serum levels)

Pediatric

See Also

Antibiotics by diagnosis

For antibiotics by organism see Microbiology (Main)

References

  1. Kman NE, Nelson RN. Infectious agents of bioterrorism: a review for emergency physicians. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2008 May;26(2):517-47
  2. Cdc.gov. 2020. Prevention and Treatment | Smallpox | CDC. [online] Available at: <https://www.cdc.gov/smallpox/prevention-treatment/index.html> [Accessed 11 September 2021].