Table 2.

Antibiotics recommended for prophylaxis of anthrax in adults and children

Oral antibiotic	Adults	Chlidren
Ciprofloxacin	500 mg twice a day	20–30 mg/kg/day divided into 2 doses*
Levofloxacin	500 mg a day	Not recommended
Ofloxacin	400 mg twice a day	Not recommended
Doxycycline	100 mg twice a day	5 mg/kg/day divided into 2 doses*
Amoxicillin	875 mg twice a day	40 mg/kg/day every 8 h (max 500 mg every 8 h)

*Pediatric use of fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines is associated with adverse effects that must be weighed against the risk of a lethal disease. Penicillin is the drug of choice for susceptible strains. Newer fluoroquinolone agents such as gatifloxacin 400 mg once daily or moxifloxacin 400 mg once daily are also likely to be effective.