Cutaneous anthrax

Cutaneous anthrax is an acute, localized zoonotic infection of the integumentary system caused by the spore-forming, Gram-positive bacterium *Bacillus anthracis*

Cutaneous anthrax is an acute, localized zoonotic infection of the integumentary system caused by the spore-forming, Gram-positive bacterium *Bacillus anthracis* The condition classically manifests as a pruritic papule that rapidly progresses to a vesicle or ring of hemorrhagic vesicles, culminating in a characteristic painless, depressed ulcer covered by a black necrotic eschar with pronounced surrounding non-pitting edema

It typically develops in agricultural or industrial workers following direct cutaneous exposure to infected animals, contaminated animal byproducts, or aerosolized spores entering through broken skin Driven by lethal and edema toxins released during bacterial germination, cutaneous anthrax may remain localized or, if left untreated, disseminate hematogenously, resulting in systemic illness, bacteremia, and substantial morbidity

It typically develops in agricultural or industrial workers following direct cutaneous exposure to infected animals, contaminated animal byproducts, or aerosolized spores entering through broken skin Driven by lethal and edema toxins released during bacterial germination, cutaneous anthrax may remain localized or, if left untreated, disseminate hematogenously, resulting in systemic illness, bacteremia, and substantial morbidity

The condition classically manifests as a pruritic papule that rapidly progresses to a vesicle or ring of hemorrhagic vesicles, culminating in a characteristic painless, depressed ulcer covered by a black necrotic eschar with pronounced surrounding non-pitting edema

The condition classically manifests as a pruritic papule that rapidly progresses to a vesicle or ring of hemorrhagic vesicles, culminating in a characteristic painless, depressed ulcer covered by a black necrotic eschar with pronounced surrounding non-pitting edema