Table 2:
CDC Recommendations for Antimicrobial Therapy Against Anthrax
  Indication
Adults
Children
Postexposure
prophylaxis
Ciprofloxacin 500 mg by mouth twice a day
OR
Doxycycline 100 mg by mouth twice a day

Ciprofloxacin 10-15 mg/kg by mouth every 12 hours*

OR

Doxycycline:
            > 8 years and > 45 kg:
                           100 mg by mouth every 12 hours
            > 8 years and < 45 kg:
                           2.2 mg/kg by mouth every 12 hours
            < 8 years:
                           2.2mg/kg by mouth every 12 hours
Cutaneous anthrax

Ciprofloxacin 500 mg by mouth twice a day
OR
Doxycycline 100 mg by mouth twice a day

 

Ciprofloxin 10-15 mg/kg by mouth every 12 hours*

OR

Doxycycline:
         > 8 years and > 45 kg:
                   100 mg by mouth every 12 hours
         > 8 years and < 45 kg:
                    2.2 mg/kg by mouth every 12 hours
         < 8 years:
                    2.2 mg/kg by mouth every 12 hours
                    
          

Inhalation anthrax

Ciprofloxacin 400 mg
intravenously every 12 hours
OR
Doxycycline 100 mg intravenously every 12 hours
Plus (for either drug)
One or two additional antibiotics (eg, rifampin, vancomycin, penicillin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, imipenem, clindamycin, clarithromycin)

 

Ciprofloxacin 10-15 mg/kg intravenously every 12 hours*

OR

Doxycycline:
             > 8 years and > 45 kg:
                       100 mg intravenously every 12 hours
             > 8 years and < 45 kg:
                        2.2 mg/kg intravenously every 12 hours
             < 8 years:
                        2.2 mg/kg intravenously every 12 hours
                              PLUS (for either drug)
              One or two additional antibiotics

 


          

*Ciprofloxacin dose in children not to exceed 1 g/day

Adapted from References 18,19
Copyright 2002 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation

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