Tularaemia

Tularaemia is spread by ticks, biting flies, direct contact with infected animals or animal skin, or inhalation of aerosols when doing outdoor work where infected animals live.

Classified as 7 distinct forms, each of which presents as a different clinical syndrome.

Diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion from the clinical presentation, although it can be confirmed only by serological testing.

Antibiotic treatment with an aminoglycoside or ciprofloxacin is the mainstay of therapy in all patients, regardless of the clinical syndrome. Doxycycline may also be used.

Prognosis following treatment is excellent.

Tularaemia is an infectious disease caused by the gram-negative bacteria Francisella tularensis. It is spread by ticks, biting flies, or direct contact with infected animals or animal skin. It may also be spread by inhalation of aerosols when doing outdoor work (e.g., mowing the lawn) where infected animals live.

BMJ talk medicine podcast: tularaemia - recognition and management with Dr Isaac Bogoch Opens in new window