Threats in bioterrorism. II: CDC category B and C agents

Abstract

A variety of agents have potential for use as weapons of biological terrorism. Knowledge of the likely organisms may be useful in preparations to mitigate the effects of a BT event. Recognition of the clinical presentation of these organisms could help physicians identify them quickly, allowing more appropriate management and possible prophylaxis of others who may have been exposed. Although many of these agents do not have specific treatments, it is important to recognize those that do. It is also important to know which infections require isolation because of potential for person-to-person spread. Table 3 summarizes important features of the CDC category B and C agents. The list of agents discussed in this article is by no means exhaustive. It is always possible that some "mad scientist" could modify an existing organism or engineer some new agent for use in biological terrorism. The possibilities are limited only by the ingenuity and depravity of those individuals who would take part in such an attack.