Biodefense Information & Resources

The biodefense section of the website is a collaboration between IDSA and the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For a description of the information available here, see About This Site. 

Bacillus anthracis (Anthrax)

Anthrax Medical Summary 
Anthrax Resources
Clinical Pathway: Anthrax (PDF)

Clostridium botulinum toxin (Botulism)

Botulism Medical Summary
Botulism Resource List 
Clinical Pathway: Botulism (PDF) 

Francisella tularensis (Tularemia)

Tularemia Medical Summary 
Tularemia Resource List
Clinical Pathway: Pneumonic Tularemia (PDF) 

Variola major (Smallpox)

Smallpox Medical Summary
Smallpox Resource List
Clinical Pathway: Vesicular or Pustular Rash Illness (PDF) 

Viral hemorrhagic fevers

Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) Medical Summary 
Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) Resource List 
Clinical Pathway: Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (PDF) 

Yersinia pestis (Plague)

Plague Medical Summary
Plague Resource List 
Clinical Pathway: Pneumonic Plague (PDF) 

 Other Biodefense Resources

• How to Consider Category A Agents in the Etiologic Diagnosis of Common Clinical Syndromes (PDF, 1 pg)
• Who To Contact in the Event of a Bioterrorist Threat 
  CDC currently recommends that health care professionals contact their local and/or state health department. This link will take you to a list of health department websites and emergency notification procedures for use by health officials and healthcare providers.
• Guidance for Notification of and Interaction with Law Enforcement Officials in the Event of a Bioterrorist Incident
  Recommendations from CDC
• Sentinel (Level A) Laboratory Guidelines 
  ASM protocols for the detection of microorganisms that might be suspected as bioterrorist agents
• Radiological Emergencies 
  Information from CDC's National Center for Environmental Health
• Emergency Preparedness & Response: Bioterrorism
  CDC resources about bioterrorist agents

Slide Sets, Videos, Images and Teaching Tools for ID Specialists

• CDC Training & Education
  Training and education materials from CDC related to emergency preparedness and response. Includes webcasts, videos, slides and education modules on many topics related to bioterrorism, chemical terrorism and general emergency response.
• Bioterrorism: Are You Prepared?  
  UCLA Center for Public Health Disasters; PowerPoint.
  Covers presentations of major biological warfare agents using patient scenarios with accompanying script that makes it useful for independent learning. Choose "BT Presentation" from the top menu and register to download the file. 
• Images of individual agents 
  CDC Public Health Image Library.
  Query by individual agent name (eg smallpox, anthrax, etc). Some pictures black and white, some color.
• If you hear hoofbeats . . . consider these zebras  (PDF, 1 pg)
  Helpful teaching tool from the Minnesota Department of Health 

Related Links

• Biodefense
  Learn IDSA's positions; view related policy documents, government reports and resources; and see what is happening in Congress and the Federal Agencies about this issue.
• Smallpox Vaccination and HIV Infection (PDF)
  Explores issues involved in vaccinating persons with HIV infection for smallpox and gives recommendations.