Anthrax

Anthrax ICD-9 022; ICD-10 A22 
(Bacillus anthracis, Malignant pustule, Malignant edema, Woolsorter disease, Ragpicker disease)

Anthrax is a disease caused by spore-forming bacteria. The main animals affected by this disease are hoofed animals, such as deer, cattle, goats, and sheep. These animals usually get this disease by swallowing anthrax spores while grazing. People can also be affected by this disease.

General Information and Resources

Standard Precautions

Standard Precautions include the major features of Blood and Body Fluid Precautions (designed to reduce the risk of transmission of bloodborne pathogens) and BSI (designed to reduce the risk of transmission of pathogens from moist body substances) and applies them to all patients receiving care in hospitals, regardless of their diagnosis or presumed infection status. Standard Precautions apply to 1) blood; 2) all body fluids, secretions, and excretions except sweat, regardless of whether or not they contain visible blood; 3) nonintact skin; and 4) mucous membranes. These are designed to reduce