View clinical trials related to Anthrax.
Filter by:This study will examine pathophysiology and immune response of anthrax in infected or exposed individuals to learn more about the disease symptoms, prevention and response to treatment. In addition, it will evaluate immune response to the anthrax vaccine AVA (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed) in healthy, non-infected individuals. The following individuals may be eligible for this study: 1. People with confirmed or suspected anthrax (inhalational, cutaneous or gastrointestinal, either acute or recovering); 2. People exposed to anthrax who have no clinical symptoms. 3. Healthy people who have not been exposed to anthrax and have been vaccinated with AVA. Those enrolled in the study will undergo the following tests and procedures. Infected and exposed individuals: - Symptomatic participants will have the following clinical procedures if medically necessary: - a) blood tests for cell counts, chemistries and evidence of anthrax bacteria; - b) nasal swab to test for evidence of anthrax - c) chest X-ray; - d) computed tomography (CT) scan (special X-rays to examine the lungs or abdomen); - e) echocardiogram to examine the heart - f) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a special imaging test using a magnetic field and radio waves to examine the infected area of skin and soft tissue for patients with cutaneous anthrax. - All subjects (with or without symptoms) will have the following research procedures: - a) blood tests to examine immune response to anthrax; - b) throat swab to test for evidence of anthrax - c) nasopharyngeal wash to test for anthrax. Water is sprayed into the nostrils and then allowed to drain for collection in a cup; - d) induced sputum to test for presence of and immune response to anthrax. A mask with a saline mist is placed over the subject s mouth and nose, causing the subject to cough and produce sputum from the lungs. The sputum is collected in a cup this is for individuals 18 and older who do not undergo bronchoscopy, described below. - Participants 18 years of age and older may have the following optional research procedures: - a) leukapheresis or plasmapheresis (see description under non-infected, vaccinated individuals above); - b) lymph node biopsy. A sample of lymph node tissue is surgically removed under local anesthetic; - c) bronchoalveolar lavage. This 15- to 30-minute procedure is done in the intensive care unit. The mouth, nasal passages, throat and airways are numbed with lidocaine and a thin flexible tube is passed through the nose into the lung airways. Samples of cells and secretions are obtained by rinsing (lavage) the airways with salt water. The fluid is analyzed for infection, inflammatory cells and inflammatory chemicals. All infected and exposed individuals will have periodic medical history and physical exam evaluations and be offered treatment or prophylaxis (treatment to prevent infection) with antibiotics, according to the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Patients will be monitored for at least 24 months after antibiotic treatment, or longer if circumstances warrant. Non-infected, vaccinated individuals 1. medical history and physical examination 2. blood tests-- between 10 and 50 ml (2-10 teaspoons) of blood will be drawn at a time, and not more than 450 ml will be taken in a 6-week period. Based on the blood test results, other optional research procedures may be requested 3. leukapheresis to collect white blood cells and plasmapheresis to collect plasma (the liquid part of the blood). For both of these procedures, blood is collected through a needle placed in an arm vein. The blood flows into a special machine that separates it into its components by spinning. The desired components (white cells or plasma) are removed and the rest of the blood is returned to the body through the same needle or a second needle in the other arm.
This protocol is a joint project of the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and the United States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases. It is designed to collect plasma from healthy employees of the Department of Defense who have been vaccinated against anthrax. The collected plasma will be pooled to make an anthrax-fighting antibody solution called anthrax immune globulin intravenous (AIGIV). This solution will be used for: - Animal experiments to test its effectiveness in preventing the development of anthrax after inhalation exposure; - Treating people severely ill with anthrax who are not improving with standard antibiotic therapy; and - Treating people exposed to spores of the bacteria that cause anthrax to try to prevent development of the disease. Healthy volunteers between 18 and 65 years of age who have received at least four doses of the anthrax vaccine and who meet the criteria for blood donors may be eligible to participate in this study. Volunteers will be recruited from Department of Defense civilian and military employees. Candidates will be screened with an interview and blood tests. Participants will undergo the following procedures: - Have a health history screen for donating plasma - Measurement of heart rate, blood pressure and temperature - Fingerstick to check hemoglobin level - Blood tests for HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis and other infectious diseases - Blood test for anthrax antibody levels - Plasmapheresis to collect blood plasma (the liquid part of the blood) In plasmapheresis, whole blood is drawn through a needle placed in an arm vein. The blood flows into a cell separator machine, where it is spun to separate the plasma from the blood cells. The plasma is collected in a plastic bag in the machine, while the rest of the blood is returned to the donor through the needle in the arm. During the procedure, the donor is given a blood thinner called citrate to prevent the blood from clotting while it is in the cell separator machine. The procedure lasts from 60 to 90 minutes. Only a small fraction of the body's total plasma is removed, and it is quickly replaced by the body with no long-term health effects. Participants may be requested to donate plasma as often as every 3 to 4 days or as infrequently as once a month for a maximum of six donations.