Anthrax immune globulin
Indications
Anthrax
Adult Dose
Intravenous
Anthrax Exposure
Indicated for treatment of inhalational anthrax in combination with appropriate antibacterial drugs
>17 years: 420 units (7 vials) IV; initiate IV infusion at 0.5 mL/min for 30 min; if tolerated, may increase infusion rate by 0.5 mL/min q30min; not to exceed 2 mL/min
Select initial dose based on clinical severity; severe cases may warrant use of 14 vials (840 units) in adults
Child Dose
Intravenous
Anthrax Exposure
Indicated for treatment of inhalational anthrax in combination with appropriate antibacterial drugs
<16 years: 60-420 units (1-7 vials) IV; initiate IV infusion at 0.01 mL/kg/min for 30 min; if tolerated, may increase infusion rate by 0.02 mL/kg/min q30min; not to exceed 0.04 mL/kg/min
Do not exceed adult infusion rate when initiating (ie, 0.5 mL/min) or for maximum infusion rate (ie, 2 mL/min)
Select initial dose based on clinical severity; severe cases may warrant use of 2-14 vials (based on weight) in pediatric patients weighing >5 kg
Vials needed by weight
<10 kg: 1 vial
10 to <18 kg: 2 vials
18 to <25 kg: 3 vials
25 to <35 kg: 4 vials
35 to <50 kg: 5 vials
50 to <60 kg: 6 vials
>60 kg: 7 vials
Renal Dose
Use Anthrax immune globulin with caution in patients with any degree of pre-existing renal insufficiency and in patients at risk of developing renal insufficiency (including, but not limited to those with diabetes mellitus, age greater than 65 years, volume depletion, paraproteinemia, sepsis, and patients receiving known nephrotoxic drugs), administering at the minimum rate of infusion practicable.
Ensure that patients are not volume-depleted before Anthrax immune globulin infusion.
Do not exceed the recommended infusion rate, and follow the infusion schedule closely.
Elderly Dose
The safety and effectiveness of Anthrax immune globulin in the geriatric population (>65 years of age) have not been studied.
Administration
IV Preparation
Each vial has a minimum potency of >60 units/vial
Bring vials to room temperature
Thaw frozen vials rapidly for immediate use by placing at room temperature for 1 hr followed by a water bath at 37°C (98.6°F) until thawed
Alternatively, thaw vials by placing the required number of vials in a refrigerator at 2-8°C (36-46°F) until the vials are thawed (approximately 14 hr)
Do not thaw in a microwave oven
Do not refreeze vials
Bring thawed vials to room temperature by letting sit on a bench for a few minutes prior to infusion
Inspect vials
Inspect vials to ensure the product is fully thawed and free from discoloration and particulate matter
The solution should be clear or slightly opalescent
Do not use solutions that are cloudy, turbid, or have particulates
Inspect vials to ensure there is no damage to the seal or vial
If damaged, do not use and contact the manufacturer
Gently swirl upright vials by hand to ensure uniformity
Do not shake the vial during preparation to avoid foaming
IV infusion bag preparation
Remove the protective caps from the product vials
Wipe the exposed central portion of the rubber stopper with an isopropyl alcohol swab
Withdraw the vial contents into a syringe, aseptically transfer into an appropriately sized IV bag, and label with the volume to be infused
No further dilution is required
Once punctured, use the vial contents to prepare the infusion bag and administer as soon as possible
Contains no preservative
IV Administration
Administer in an IV line with a constant infusion pump
Use of an in-line filter is optional
If adverse reactions occur (eg, flushing, headache, nausea, changes in pulse rate, or blood pressure), slow the rate of infusion or temporarily stop the infusion
Vials are for single use only
Discard any unused portion
Adult infusion rate
Initial: 0.5 mL/min for 30 min
If tolerated, may increase infusion rate by 0.5 mL/min q30min; not to exceed 2 mL/min
Pediatric infusion rate
Initial: 0.01 mL/kg/min for 30 min
If tolerated, may increase infusion rate by 0.02 mL/kg/min q30min; not to exceed 0.04 mL/kg/min
Do not exceed adult infusion rate when initiating (ie, 0.5 mL/min) or for maximum infusion rate (ie, 2 mL/min)
Contra Indications
History of anaphylaxis or prior severe systemic reaction associated with the parenteral administration of this or other human immune globulin preparations
IgA deficiency with antibodies against IgA and a history of IgA hypersensitivity, as it contains trace amounts of IgA (<40 mcg/mL)
Precautions
Falsely high blood glucose levels
Maltose in immune globulin products, including anthrax immune globulin, may give falsely high blood glucose levels with some blood point-of-care glucose testing systems (eg, those based on the GDH-PQQ or glucose-dye-oxidoreductase methods), possibly resulting in inappropriate administration of insulin and life-threatening hypoglycemia
To avoid interference by maltose, perform blood glucose measurements with a glucose-specific method (monitor and test strips)
Thrombosis
May occur with immune globulin products
Risk factors include advanced age, prolonged immobilization, hypercoagulable conditions, history of venous or arterial thrombosis, use of estrogens, indwelling vascular catheters, hyperviscosity, and cardiovascular risk factors
Thrombosis may also occur in the absence of known risk factors
For patients at risk of thrombosis, administer at the minimum infusion rate practicable
Ensure adequate hydration in patients before administration
Hypersensitivity reactions may occur
Contains maltose; may interfere with certain types of blood glucose monitoring systems
Thrombosis may occur following treatment with immune globulin products
Adverse reactions (eg, chills, fever, headache, nausea, vomiting) may be related to the rate of infusion; follow closely the recommended infusion rate
Hemolytic anemia and hemolysis may develop; anthrax immune globulin may contain blood group antibodies that may act as hemolysins and induce in vivo coating of red blood cells with immune globulin, causing a positive direct antiglobulin reaction and hemolysis
Aseptic meningitis syndrome, noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, and blood-borne infections may occur in association with administration of immune globulin products
Renal impairment
Acute renal dysfunction, acute renal failure, osmotic nephropathy, acute tubular necrosis, proximal tubular nephropathy, and death may occur upon use of immune globulin intravenous products
Caution with any degree of pr
Pregnancy-Lactation
Not Classi
Pregnancy & Lactation
There are no human data to establish the presence or absence of associated risk during pregnancy or while breastfeeding
Interactions
Ciprofloxacin and Levofloxacin
Based on animal studies, Anthrax immune globulin did not interfere with antibiotic therapy.
Concomitant administration of Anthrax immune globulin with levofloxacin or ciprofloxacin in exposed rabbits and cynomolgus macaques, respectively, did not reduce the efficacy of antibacterial therapy.
Live, Attenuated Vaccines
Immune globulin administration may impair the efficacy of live attenuated vaccines such as measles, rubella, mumps and varicella. Defer vaccination with live virus vaccines until approximately three months after administration of Anthrax immune globulin. Revaccinated people who received Anthrax immune globulin shortly after live virus vaccination three months after the administration of the Anthrax immune globulin.
Adverse Effects
>10%
Headache (20.4%)
1-10%
Nausea (9.3%)
Infusion site pain (9.3%)
Infusion site swelling (7.4%)
Back pain (3.7%)
Mechanism of Action
Purified human intravenous immune globulin G (IgG) containing polyclonal antibodies that provides passive immunization that neutralizes anthrax toxin
Binds to protective antigen (PA) to prevent PA-mediated cellular entry of anthrax edema factor and lethal factor
Administered in combination with appropriate antibiotic therapy as the immune globulin by itself is not known to have direct antibacterial activity against anthrax bacteria, which otherwise may continue to grow and produce anthrax toxins
It is prepared using plasma collected from healthy, screened donors who have been immunized with anthrax vaccine adsorbed