Diphtheria causative agent

What is diphtheria? Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection that affects the mucous membranes of the throat and nose. Although it spreads easily from one person to another, diphtheria can be prevented through the use of vaccines. Call your doctor right away if you believe you have diphtheria. If it’s left untreated, it can cause severe damage to your kidneys, nervous system, and heart. It’s fatal in about A type of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae causes diphtheria. The condition is typically spread through person-to-person contact or through contact with objects that have the bacteria on them, such as a cup or used tissue. You may also get diphtheria if you’re around an infected person when they sneeze, cough, or blow their nose. Even if an infected person doesn’t show any signs or symptoms of diphtheria, they’re still able to transmit the bacterial infection for up to six weeks after the initial infection. The bacteria most commonly infect your nose and throat. Once you’re infected, the bacteria release dangerous substances called toxins. The toxins spread through your bloodstream and often cause a thick, gray coating to form in these areas of the body: • nose • throat • tongue • airway In some cases, these toxins can also damage other organs, including the heart, • • • Children in the United States and Europe are routinely People are also at an increased risk of contracting diphtheria if they: • aren’t up to date on their vaccinations • visit a country th...

11 Mechanisms of Microbial Genetics • Introduction • 11.1 The Functions of Genetic Material • 11.2 DNA Replication • 11.3 RNA Transcription • 11.4 Protein Synthesis (Translation) • 11.5 Mutations • 11.6 How Asexual Prokaryotes Achieve Genetic Diversity • 11.7 Gene Regulation: Operon Theory • Summary • 14 Antimicrobial Drugs • Introduction • 14.1 History of Chemotherapy and Antimicrobial Discovery • 14.2 Fundamentals of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy • 14.3 Mechanisms of Antibacterial Drugs • 14.4 Mechanisms of Other Antimicrobial Drugs • 14.5 Drug Resistance • 14.6 Testing the Effectiveness of Antimicrobials • 14.7 Current Strategies for Antimicrobial Discovery • Summary • 23 Urogenital System Infections • Introduction • 23.1 Anatomy and Normal Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract • 23.2 Bacterial Infections of the Urinary System • 23.3 Bacterial Infections of the Reproductive System • 23.4 Viral Infections of the Reproductive System • 23.5 Fungal Infections of the Reproductive System • 23.6 Protozoan Infections of the Urogenital System • Summary • 24 Digestive System Infections • Introduction • 24.1 Anatomy and Normal Microbiota of the Digestive System • 24.2 Microbial Diseases of the Mouth and Oral Cavity • 24.3 Bacterial Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract • 24.4 Viral Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract • 24.5 Protozoan Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract • 24.6 Helminthic Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract • Summary • 25 Circulatory and Lymphatic System...

Diagnosis Doctors may suspect diphtheria in a sick child who has a sore throat with a gray membrane covering the tonsils and throat. Growth of C. diphtheriae in a lab culture of material from the throat membrane confirms the diagnosis. Doctors can also take a tissue sample from an infected wound and have it tested in a lab to check for the type of diphtheria that affects the skin (cutaneous diphtheria). Treatment Diphtheria is a serious illness. Doctors treat it immediately and aggressively. Doctors first ensure that the airway isn't blocked or reduced. In some cases, they may need to place a breathing tube in the throat to keep the airway open until the airway is less inflamed. Treatments include: • Antibiotics. Antibiotics, such as penicillin or erythromycin, help kill bacteria in the body, clearing up infections. Antibiotics lessen the time that someone with diphtheria is contagious. • An antitoxin. If a doctor suspects diphtheria, he or she will request a medication that counteracts the diphtheria toxin in the body. This medication comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Called an antitoxin, this drug is injected into a vein or muscle. Before giving an antitoxin, doctors may perform skin allergy tests. These are done to make sure that the infected person doesn't have an allergy to the antitoxin. If someone has an allergy, the doctor will likely recommend that he or she not get the antitoxin. Children and adults who have diphtheria often need to be in...

What is diphtheria? Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection that affects the mucous membranes of the throat and nose. Although it spreads easily from one person to another, diphtheria can be prevented through the use of vaccines. Call your doctor right away if you believe you have diphtheria. If it’s left untreated, it can cause severe damage to your kidneys, nervous system, and heart. It’s fatal in about A type of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae causes diphtheria. The condition is typically spread through person-to-person contact or through contact with objects that have the bacteria on them, such as a cup or used tissue. You may also get diphtheria if you’re around an infected person when they sneeze, cough, or blow their nose. Even if an infected person doesn’t show any signs or symptoms of diphtheria, they’re still able to transmit the bacterial infection for up to six weeks after the initial infection. The bacteria most commonly infect your nose and throat. Once you’re infected, the bacteria release dangerous substances called toxins. The toxins spread through your bloodstream and often cause a thick, gray coating to form in these areas of the body: • nose • throat • tongue • airway In some cases, these toxins can also damage other organs, including the heart, • • • Children in the United States and Europe are routinely People are also at an increased risk of contracting diphtheria if they: • aren’t up to date on their vaccinations • visit a country th...

Diagnosis Doctors may suspect diphtheria in a sick child who has a sore throat with a gray membrane covering the tonsils and throat. Growth of C. diphtheriae in a lab culture of material from the throat membrane confirms the diagnosis. Doctors can also take a tissue sample from an infected wound and have it tested in a lab to check for the type of diphtheria that affects the skin (cutaneous diphtheria). Treatment Diphtheria is a serious illness. Doctors treat it immediately and aggressively. Doctors first ensure that the airway isn't blocked or reduced. In some cases, they may need to place a breathing tube in the throat to keep the airway open until the airway is less inflamed. Treatments include: • Antibiotics. Antibiotics, such as penicillin or erythromycin, help kill bacteria in the body, clearing up infections. Antibiotics lessen the time that someone with diphtheria is contagious. • An antitoxin. If a doctor suspects diphtheria, he or she will request a medication that counteracts the diphtheria toxin in the body. This medication comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Called an antitoxin, this drug is injected into a vein or muscle. Before giving an antitoxin, doctors may perform skin allergy tests. These are done to make sure that the infected person doesn't have an allergy to the antitoxin. If someone has an allergy, the doctor will likely recommend that he or she not get the antitoxin. Children and adults who have diphtheria often need to be in...

11 Mechanisms of Microbial Genetics • Introduction • 11.1 The Functions of Genetic Material • 11.2 DNA Replication • 11.3 RNA Transcription • 11.4 Protein Synthesis (Translation) • 11.5 Mutations • 11.6 How Asexual Prokaryotes Achieve Genetic Diversity • 11.7 Gene Regulation: Operon Theory • Summary • 14 Antimicrobial Drugs • Introduction • 14.1 History of Chemotherapy and Antimicrobial Discovery • 14.2 Fundamentals of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy • 14.3 Mechanisms of Antibacterial Drugs • 14.4 Mechanisms of Other Antimicrobial Drugs • 14.5 Drug Resistance • 14.6 Testing the Effectiveness of Antimicrobials • 14.7 Current Strategies for Antimicrobial Discovery • Summary • 23 Urogenital System Infections • Introduction • 23.1 Anatomy and Normal Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract • 23.2 Bacterial Infections of the Urinary System • 23.3 Bacterial Infections of the Reproductive System • 23.4 Viral Infections of the Reproductive System • 23.5 Fungal Infections of the Reproductive System • 23.6 Protozoan Infections of the Urogenital System • Summary • 24 Digestive System Infections • Introduction • 24.1 Anatomy and Normal Microbiota of the Digestive System • 24.2 Microbial Diseases of the Mouth and Oral Cavity • 24.3 Bacterial Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract • 24.4 Viral Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract • 24.5 Protozoan Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract • 24.6 Helminthic Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract • Summary • 25 Circulatory and Lymphatic System...

What is diphtheria? Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection that affects the mucous membranes of the throat and nose. Although it spreads easily from one person to another, diphtheria can be prevented through the use of vaccines. Call your doctor right away if you believe you have diphtheria. If it’s left untreated, it can cause severe damage to your kidneys, nervous system, and heart. It’s fatal in about A type of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae causes diphtheria. The condition is typically spread through person-to-person contact or through contact with objects that have the bacteria on them, such as a cup or used tissue. You may also get diphtheria if you’re around an infected person when they sneeze, cough, or blow their nose. Even if an infected person doesn’t show any signs or symptoms of diphtheria, they’re still able to transmit the bacterial infection for up to six weeks after the initial infection. The bacteria most commonly infect your nose and throat. Once you’re infected, the bacteria release dangerous substances called toxins. The toxins spread through your bloodstream and often cause a thick, gray coating to form in these areas of the body: • nose • throat • tongue • airway In some cases, these toxins can also damage other organs, including the heart, • • • Children in the United States and Europe are routinely People are also at an increased risk of contracting diphtheria if they: • aren’t up to date on their vaccinations • visit a country th...

Diagnosis Doctors may suspect diphtheria in a sick child who has a sore throat with a gray membrane covering the tonsils and throat. Growth of C. diphtheriae in a lab culture of material from the throat membrane confirms the diagnosis. Doctors can also take a tissue sample from an infected wound and have it tested in a lab to check for the type of diphtheria that affects the skin (cutaneous diphtheria). Treatment Diphtheria is a serious illness. Doctors treat it immediately and aggressively. Doctors first ensure that the airway isn't blocked or reduced. In some cases, they may need to place a breathing tube in the throat to keep the airway open until the airway is less inflamed. Treatments include: • Antibiotics. Antibiotics, such as penicillin or erythromycin, help kill bacteria in the body, clearing up infections. Antibiotics lessen the time that someone with diphtheria is contagious. • An antitoxin. If a doctor suspects diphtheria, he or she will request a medication that counteracts the diphtheria toxin in the body. This medication comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Called an antitoxin, this drug is injected into a vein or muscle. Before giving an antitoxin, doctors may perform skin allergy tests. These are done to make sure that the infected person doesn't have an allergy to the antitoxin. If someone has an allergy, the doctor will likely recommend that he or she not get the antitoxin. Children and adults who have diphtheria often need to be in...

11 Mechanisms of Microbial Genetics • Introduction • 11.1 The Functions of Genetic Material • 11.2 DNA Replication • 11.3 RNA Transcription • 11.4 Protein Synthesis (Translation) • 11.5 Mutations • 11.6 How Asexual Prokaryotes Achieve Genetic Diversity • 11.7 Gene Regulation: Operon Theory • Summary • 14 Antimicrobial Drugs • Introduction • 14.1 History of Chemotherapy and Antimicrobial Discovery • 14.2 Fundamentals of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy • 14.3 Mechanisms of Antibacterial Drugs • 14.4 Mechanisms of Other Antimicrobial Drugs • 14.5 Drug Resistance • 14.6 Testing the Effectiveness of Antimicrobials • 14.7 Current Strategies for Antimicrobial Discovery • Summary • 23 Urogenital System Infections • Introduction • 23.1 Anatomy and Normal Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract • 23.2 Bacterial Infections of the Urinary System • 23.3 Bacterial Infections of the Reproductive System • 23.4 Viral Infections of the Reproductive System • 23.5 Fungal Infections of the Reproductive System • 23.6 Protozoan Infections of the Urogenital System • Summary • 24 Digestive System Infections • Introduction • 24.1 Anatomy and Normal Microbiota of the Digestive System • 24.2 Microbial Diseases of the Mouth and Oral Cavity • 24.3 Bacterial Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract • 24.4 Viral Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract • 24.5 Protozoan Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract • 24.6 Helminthic Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract • Summary • 25 Circulatory and Lymphatic System...