Bacillus anthracis contamination and inhalational anthrax in a mail processing and distribution center

Aims: Four inhalational anthrax cases occurred in a large mail processing and distribution center in Washington, DC, after envelopes containing Bacillus anthracis spores were processed. This report describes the results of sampling for B. anthracis spores during investigations conducted in October...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of applied microbiology Vol. 96; no. 5; pp. 1048 - 1056
Main Authors:	Sanderson, W.T., Stoddard, R.R., Echt, A.S., Piacitelli, C.A., Kim, D., Horan, J., Davies, M.M., McCleery, R.E., Muller, P., Schnorr, T.M., Ward, E.M., Hales, T.R.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01-01-2004 Blackwell Science Oxford University Press
Subjects:	Air Pollution, Indoor anthrax Anthrax - epidemiology Anthrax - microbiology Bacillus anthracis Bacillus anthracis - isolation & purification bacterial spores Biological and medical sciences Bioterrorism Colony Count, Microbial - methods Disease Outbreaks District of Columbia Equipment Contamination Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology Humans Inhalation Exposure - adverse effects Microbiology Occupational Diseases - epidemiology Occupational Diseases - microbiology Occupational Exposure - adverse effects postal facility Postal Service Spores, Bacterial - isolation & purification surface sampling Workplace District of Columbia Bacillus anthracis Applied microbiology Samplings bioterrorism postal facility Bacillaceae bacterial spores Contamination Spores Infection Bacillales Anthrax surface sampling Distribution Bacteriosis Bacteria Sampling
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Summary:	Aims: Four inhalational anthrax cases occurred in a large mail processing and distribution center in Washington, DC, after envelopes containing Bacillus anthracis spores were processed. This report describes the results of sampling for B. anthracis spores during investigations conducted in October and December 2001. Methods and Results: Wet swabs, wet wipes, vacuum sock, and air‐filter samples were collected throughout the facility to characterize the extent of building contamination. The results showed widespread contamination of B. anthracis spores, particularly associated with one delivery bar code sorter (DBCS) machine that had sorted the spore‐containing envelopes and an area where the envelopes were handled by postal workers. Spore concentrations decreased as distance from the DBCS machine increased, but spores were widely dispersed into surrounding areas. Conclusion: The spatial distribution of culture positive samples was closely related to the work areas of the inhalational anthrax cases and supported epidemiological evidence that the workers became ill from exposure to B. anthracis spores in areas where the contaminated envelopes had travelled. Significance and Impact of the Study: The results of this investigation were used to guide decontamination efforts and provided baseline spore concentrations for follow‐up measurements after the building had been cleaned. Implementing methods to reduce aerosolization and dispersion of dust within the facility would reduce postal workers’ potential exposures to bioterrorism agents.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	1364-5072 1365-2672
DOI:	10.1111/j.1365-2672.2004.02223.x