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April 5, 2002
U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS
"CDC Says Lab Worker Who Caught Anthrax Wasn't Wearing Gloves" Wall Street Journal (www.wsj.com) (04/05/02) P. B6
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believes that a Texas lab worker, who caught the skin form of anthrax after handling samples from last fall's bioterror attack without gloves, probably touched a shaving sore on his face while having anthrax spores on his hands. Another problem in the lab involved it using rubbing alcohol instead of a 10 percent bleach solution to decontaminate the tops of vials, says the CDC. The unidentified lab worker was hospitalized and released and is currently healthy and taking antibiotics. According to the CDC, the incident highlights the need for lab workers who handle possibly contaminated materials to get vaccinated against anthrax and also wear gloves as precautionary measures.
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