Microbiology Practice of Infectious Diseases

Question: A. Why can Bacillus anthracis be classified as both a BSL2 and BSL3 agent. B. What signs and symptoms are characteristic of respiratory anthrax? C. What key tests are used for the diagnosis of anthrax? D.What tests should a sentinel lab perform to rule out Bacillus anthracis? Answer: This part of the paper mainly discusses the primary reasons for the classification of Bacillus anthracis both BSL2 and BSL3 agent. Bacillus anthracis the agent of acute bacterial disease; anthrax is a large, non-motile, rod-shaped, gram-positive, non-hemolytic and aerobic bacterium that usually occurs in the form of chains and the presence of oxygen produces spores (Bennett et al., 2014). This bacterium is classified into BSL-2 and BSL-3 because BSL-2 are needed for the non-aerosol producing manipulators for the specimens that are clinical like acid-fast smears preparation. Whereas, BSL-3 are necessary for lab work during propagation and manipulation of any subspecies of M. tuberculosis. Respiratory anthrax occurs when anyone breathe in the spores of the Bacillus anthracis. The signs and symptoms are flu with a sore throat and painful swallowing, fever, breathing troubles, fatigue and muscle pains, chest disorder, vomiting, bleeding with coughing, and even meningitis which is the inflammation of the brain and spinal cord (Hendricks et al., 2014). The different tests for the diagnosis of anthrax are: Test of skin where fluid sample from the lesion on the skin and tested in the lab. Test of blood where a little amount of blood is taken from the patients body and checked in the lab. X-ray of chest and CT scan. Stool tests may also be done to verify the presence of the bacteria. Spinal tap test where a little amount of spinal fluid will be drawn to detect the presence of anthrax meningitis To rule out Bacillus anthracis in sentinel lab, a combination of both morphological assessments and Gram stains features and some simple tests need to be done in the sentinel lab. Like growing the bacteria colonies on blood culture as well as on blood agar. Even utilizing the Mass Spectrometry technology. References Bennett, J. E., Dolin, R., Blaser, M. J. (2014).Principles and practice of infectious diseases. Elsevier Health Sciences. Hendricks, K. A., Wright, M. E., Shadomy, S. V., Bradley, J. S., Morrow, M. G., Pavia, A. T., ... Pesik, N. (2014). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expert panel meetings on prevention and treatment of anthrax in adults.Emerg Infect Dis,20(2), e130687.