Can pneumonic plague be spread from person to person?
Person-to-person transmission of pneumonic plague occurs through respiratory droplets, which can infect those who have face-to-face contact with an ill patient. How is pneumonic plague diagnosed? Laboratory tests should be performed, including blood cultures for plague bacteria and microscopic examination of blood and sputum samples. A presumptive diagnosis can be made quickly based on symptoms and concurrent lab results. Is there a treatment for pneumonic plague? Treatment should be initiated as soon as a diagnosis of plague is suspected; it should not be delayed awaiting confirmatory testing. Doctors can prescribe several antibiotics, including streptomycin, tetracycline and chloramphenicol. To be effective, treatment must begin early. If left untreated, the disease can be fatal. Antibiotic resistance is rare in naturally-occurring plague, but could be a concern in a bioterrorism event. Is there a way to prevent infection? Prophylactic antibiotic treatment for seven days will protect
