Diphtheria is a highly contagious
and potentially life-threatening bacterial disease caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae
How is Corynebacterium transmitted?
Diphtheria is an infection caused by strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae
How can you prevent diphtheria from spreading?
Strict isolation while you’re contagious
helps prevent the spread of the infection. Careful hand-washing by everyone in your house is important for limiting the spread of the infection. Once you recover from diphtheria, you’ll need a full course of diphtheria vaccine to prevent a recurrence.
Does Corynebacterium require isolation?
Follow-up cultures should be done at 48 hours after treatment and again at 2 weeks to document clearance.
Isolation should continue until two consecutive cultures 24 hours apart are negative
.
What are the symptoms of Corynebacterium diphtheriae?
- A thick, gray membrane covering your throat and tonsils.
- A sore throat and hoarseness.
- Swollen glands (enlarged lymph nodes) in your neck.
- Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing.
- Nasal discharge.
- Fever and chills.
- Tiredness.
Where is diphtheria most commonly found?
Endemic in many countries in
Asia
, the South Pacific, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Since 2016, respiratory diphtheria outbreaks have occurred in Indonesia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam, Venezuela, Haiti, South Africa, and Yemen.
How does the body fight off diphtheria?
The diphtheria vaccine contains a weakened form of the bacterial toxin, called a toxoid. It works by prompting the
body to produce an ‘antitoxin’
– a specific antibody that neutralises diphtheria toxin. A number of doses are needed to offer good protection against diphtheria.
How serious is Corynebacterium?
Diphtheria is a serious infection caused by strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae
How do I get rid of Corynebacterium?
Many antibiotics are effective, including
penicillin, erythromycin, clindamycin, rifampin, and tetracycline
; erythromycin or penicillin is the treatment of choice and is usually given for 14 days.
Where is Corynebacterium found in the body?
They are ubiquitous and can be found
on the skin and in the upper respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts
. The primary pathogen in this group is Corynebacterium diphtheriae, the etiologic agent of diphtheria. Additional corynebacteria include 45 species, 30 of which on rare occasion cause human disease.
What part of the human body does Corynebacterium colonize?
C. diphtheriae usually colonize a local lesion in
the upper respiratory tract
(although cutaneous diphtheria can occur as well) where the toxin secreted by the bacteria cases necrotic injury to epithelial cells.
What causes Corynebacterium?
Diphtheria
is a serious infection caused by strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae that make a toxin (poison). It is the toxin that can cause people to get very sick. Diphtheria bacteria spread from person to person, usually through respiratory droplets
What diphtheria smells like?
Diphtheria is caused by bacterial infection with Corynebacterium diphtheria. Diphtheria usually affects the larynx or the lower and upper respiratory tracts and causes a sore throat. Some patients with diphtheria have a sickening,
sweetish or putrid odour
in their breath (19).
Who is most likely to get diphtheria?
Children under 5 and adults over 60 years old
are particularly at risk for getting it. People living in crowded or unclean conditions, those who aren’t well nourished, and children and adults who don’t have up-to-date immunizations are also at risk.
What are the 5 types of diphtheria?
- classical respiratory diphtheria.
- laryngeal diphtheria.
- nasal diphtheria and.
- cutaneous diphtheria (skin lesions).
Where do you catch diphtheria?
Diphtheria bacteria spread from person to person, usually through
respiratory droplets
