Cutaneous anthrax: evaluation of 28 cases in the Eastern Anatolian region of Turkey

AbstractContext: Anthrax is an endemic disease in developing countries. Human cases are usually associated with animal products. About 95% of naturally acquired cases are cutaneous anthrax.Objective: In this study, cutaneous anthrax cases from the Elazig province (the Eastern Anatolian region) of Turkey seen in our hospital within a 6-year period were evaluated with respect to epidemiological and clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and outcome.Methods: Twenty-eight patients with cutaneous anthrax observed between January 2009 and December 2014 were investigated retrospectively. The diagnosis of cutaneous anthrax was based on detailed history, dermatologic findings, including painless, ulcers covered by a characteristic black eschar and/or microbiological procedures, including Gram stain and culture of materials obtained from the lesions.Results: Of the 28 patients followed up with cutaneous anthrax diagnosis, 14 (50%) were female and 14 (50%) were male. The mean age of the cases was 39.6 years (age ra...