SURGICAL-MANAGEMENT OF CUTANEOUS ANTHRAX

Cutaneous anthrax in humans is a very rare disease caused by Bacillus anthracis. Humans become infected with this spore-forming bacterium wh en they come into contact with an infected animal, The disease usually develops on exposed sites like the hands and the face, The authors pr esent 4 patients with cutaneous anthrax: 2 of the hands and 2 of the e yelids. All patients needed plastic surgical help via skin grafting af ter excision of the black eschar. No complications occurred after surg ery. Because they are so rare in Europe and the United States, sporadi c cases of anthrax are easily overlooked because the diagnosis often i s not considered. Cutaneous anthrax should be considered in any patien t with a painless ulcer or black eschar who has a history of exposure to animals.