Anthrax case definition

This document contains the case definitions for Anthrax which is nationally notifiable within Australia. This definition should be used to determine whether a case should be notified.

Communicable Diseases Surveillance

Australian national notifiable diseases case definitions - Anthrax

Reporting

Only confirmed cases should be notified.

Confirmed case

A confirmed case requires either:

1. Laboratory definitive evidence

2. Laboratory suggestive evidence AND clinical evidence.

Laboratory definitive evidence

Isolation of Bacillus anthracis -like organisms or spores confirmed by a reference laboratory.

Laboratory suggestive evidence

1. Detection of Bacillus anthracis by microscopic examination of stained smears

2. Detection of Bacillus anthracis by nucleic acid testing.

Clinical evidence

1. Cutaneous: skin lesion evolving over 1-6 days from a papular through a vesicular stage, to a depressed black eschar invariably accompanied by oedema that may be mild to extensive

2. Gastrointestinal: abdominal distress characterised by nausea, vomiting, anorexia and followed by fever

3. Rapid onset of hypoxia, dyspnoea and high temperature, with radiological evidence of mediastinal widening

4. Meningeal: acute onset of high fever, convulsions, loss of consciousness and meningeal signs and symptoms.