Postexposure prophylaxis tularemia

A live attenuated vaccine derived from a less virulent form of F. tularensis is available for laboratory personnel who routinely work with tularemia. Postexposure prophylaxis for contacts of tularemia patients is not recommended, as person-to-person transmission is not known to occur. For persons who may have been exposed to F. tularensis, for example, by an act of bioterrorism, a 14-day oral course of ciprofloxacin or doxycycline is indicated (Dennis et al., 2001). 

Currently, the Working Group on Civilian Biodefense does not recommend tularemia vaccination for pre- or postexposure prophylaxis of the general popnla-tion for two reasons ... 

Vaccines. Anthrax and smallpox vaccines can be used before exposure and also for postexposuie prophylaxis. A pentavalent (ABODE) botulinum toxoid is currently used for laboratory workers at high risk of exposure. It is not effective for postexposure prophylaxis. Vaccines are not currently available for plague, tularemia, or viral hemorrhagic fevers. 

Antibiotics should be continued for 60 days in patients with anthrax infection. Postexposure antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended after exposure to anthrax, plague, and tularemia. 

---

See also in sourсe #XX -- [ ]

---