News Health & Medicine AMA: Drugs are for anthrax, not fear By Janet Raloff October 17, 2001 at 2:27 pm - More than 2 years ago Share this:Share Share via email (Opens in new window) Email Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Share on X (Opens in new window) X Print (Opens in new window) Print News accounts have revealed that dozens of people in the United States were potentially exposed to the anthrax bacterium in acts of bioterrorism. These reports have triggered public inquiries about who should take antibiotics to ward off anthrax infections. This week, the Chicago-based American Medical Association (AMA) issued an advisory to physicians arguing that such prophylactic use of antibiotics might do more harm than good.