The preventive use of antibiotics among people believed to be exposed to anthrax in locations in Florida, New Jersey and Washington, limited the number of inhalational anthrax infections, according to a study published today in Science.

The study examines inhalational anthrax infections among people in three groups exposed to anthrax:  visitors to the American Media Inc. headquarters in Florida, workers at a New Jersey postal facility and workers at the Brentwood Road postal facility in Washington — all of whom were placed on 60-day preventive anthrax antibiotic regimens.

The number of inhalational anthrax infections in the three groups would have been twice as large if antibiotics had not been supplied, according to the study.  Only eight people in the three groups were infected, instead of the 17 the study estimated would have become infected had they not received antibiotics, based on statistical modeling.

“Our results also underscore the importance of disease surveillance and rapid identification of exposed persons as critical elements of any strategy to minimize mortality and morbidity from future acts of bioterrorism,” wrote study authors Ron Brookmeyer and Natalie Blades (Brookmeyer/Blades, Science, March 8).

The study shows that the widespread use of antibiotics during last fall’s anthrax attacks was justified, said Brian Strom, chairman of a scientific panel at the Institute of Medicine examining the safety of the anthrax vaccine (see GSN, March 7).

“If the model is right, and it saved nine people’s lives, then giving 5,000 people antibiotics” was justified, Strom said.  “We spend a lot of money in order to save a life” (Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times, March 8).

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