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Pathology - Systemic Infection and Meningitis

Systemic infection

Systemic infections may arise from inhalational, gastrointestinal, and cutaneous modes of transmission. This form of the disease is often fatal. Systemic anthrax involves massive bacteremia and toxemia. Shock and sudden death occur in the advanced form and result from secreted exotoxin complexs (7).

Anthrax Meningitis

Anthrax meningitis may occur by the inhalational, gastrointestinal, or cutaneous routes, but it is most common in cutaneous anthrax. Antibiotic therapy is unsuccessful and death usually occurs one to six days after the onset of illness. Neurologic degeneration and death follow the initial symptoms of fever, fatigue, myalgia, vomiting, and headache. Autopsies reveal extensive hemorrhage of the leptomeninges (7).