Plague (cont.)

Medical Author:

Demetres Velendzas, MD

Coauthor:

Susan Dufel, FACEP, MD

Coauthor:

Thomas W McGovern, MD

Medical Editor:

Suzanne White, MD

Medical Editor:

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD

Medical Editor:

Raymond J Roberge, MD, MPH, FAAEM, FACMT

If doctors suspect a patient may have plague, all health care personnel take precautions. They wear goggles, gloves, gowns, and possibly masks.

Patients are isolated and all precautions taken not to infect others. Some patients may need help breathing and are given oxygen. They are kept away from others for 2-3 days after antibiotic treatment has started or until the infection is cleared.
Most patients experience some degree of septic shock (blood infection/poisoning), and specialists monitor this closely in an intensive care unit.
Medical management of plague can involve a number of medications. Antibiotics must be given early. These might include streptomycin sulfate in combination with tetracycline and other antibiotics.