Lab diagnosis of diphtheria

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...

Diphtheria One sign of diphtheria is swollen glands (enlarged lymph nodes) in the neck. Diphtheria (dif-THEER-e-uh) is a serious bacterial infection that usually affects the mucous membranes of the nose and throat. Diphtheria is extremely rare in the United States and other developed countries thanks to widespread vaccination against the disease. However, many countries with limited health care or vaccination options still experience high rates of diphtheria. Symptoms Diphtheria signs and symptoms usually begin 2 to 5 days after a person becomes infected. Signs and symptoms may include: • A thick, gray membrane covering the throat and tonsils • A sore throat and hoarseness • Swollen glands (enlarged lymph nodes) in the neck • Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing • Nasal discharge • Fever and chills • Tiredness In some people, infection with diphtheria-causing bacteria causes only a mild illness — or no obvious signs and symptoms at all. Infected people who stay unaware of their illness are known as carriers of diphtheria. They're called carriers because they can spread the infection without being sick themselves. Skin (cutaneous) diphtheria A second type of diphtheria can affect the skin, causing pain, redness and swelling similar to other bacterial skin infections. Ulcers covered by a gray membrane also may be a sign of skin diphtheria. Although it's more common in tropical climates, diphtheria on the skin also occurs in the United States. It may happen especially amon...

Characteristics Psuedomembrane of C. diphtheriae Corynebacterium diphtheriae also known as Klebs-Löffler bacillus is a Gram-positive bacillus responsible for causing diphtheria. Once a major cause of illness and death among children, diphtheria became a rare disease after the administration of vaccination. The genus and species names are derived from the Greek word: korynee (“club”) after the microscopic appearance of the organisms and diphtheria (“leather hide”) for the pseudomembrane that is the hallmark of respiratory tract infection. Table of Contents • • • • • • • • • • • • • • General properties • Gram-positive rods, that are club-shaped due to the presence of metachromatic (volutin) granules at one or both ends. Cells are arranged singly, in “palisades” of parallel cells, or in pairs that remain connected after cell division to form V, or L shapes (Chinese letters appearance). • Nonmotile, non-capsulated, and non-sporing. • Aerobes or facultative anaerobes, • Fastidious organisms; grows best at 37 °C on blood or serum-containing media such as Loeffler’s medium, tellurite medium, etc. • Ferment glucose, starch glycogen. • Catalase positive, non-pigmented, oxidase negative, indole negative, and do not form phosphatase. Albert Staining – Corynebacterium diphtheriae Pathogenesis of Corynebacterium diphtheriae Disease Transmission The source of infection is carriers who harbor the organisms in the oropharynx or skin. Human to human transmission is spread by respiratory d...

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...

Diphtheria One sign of diphtheria is swollen glands (enlarged lymph nodes) in the neck. Diphtheria (dif-THEER-e-uh) is a serious bacterial infection that usually affects the mucous membranes of the nose and throat. Diphtheria is extremely rare in the United States and other developed countries thanks to widespread vaccination against the disease. However, many countries with limited health care or vaccination options still experience high rates of diphtheria. Symptoms Diphtheria signs and symptoms usually begin 2 to 5 days after a person becomes infected. Signs and symptoms may include: • A thick, gray membrane covering the throat and tonsils • A sore throat and hoarseness • Swollen glands (enlarged lymph nodes) in the neck • Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing • Nasal discharge • Fever and chills • Tiredness In some people, infection with diphtheria-causing bacteria causes only a mild illness — or no obvious signs and symptoms at all. Infected people who stay unaware of their illness are known as carriers of diphtheria. They're called carriers because they can spread the infection without being sick themselves. Skin (cutaneous) diphtheria A second type of diphtheria can affect the skin, causing pain, redness and swelling similar to other bacterial skin infections. Ulcers covered by a gray membrane also may be a sign of skin diphtheria. Although it's more common in tropical climates, diphtheria on the skin also occurs in the United States. It may happen especially amon...

Characteristics Psuedomembrane of C. diphtheriae Corynebacterium diphtheriae also known as Klebs-Löffler bacillus is a Gram-positive bacillus responsible for causing diphtheria. Once a major cause of illness and death among children, diphtheria became a rare disease after the administration of vaccination. The genus and species names are derived from the Greek word: korynee (“club”) after the microscopic appearance of the organisms and diphtheria (“leather hide”) for the pseudomembrane that is the hallmark of respiratory tract infection. Table of Contents • • • • • • • • • • • • • • General properties • Gram-positive rods, that are club-shaped due to the presence of metachromatic (volutin) granules at one or both ends. Cells are arranged singly, in “palisades” of parallel cells, or in pairs that remain connected after cell division to form V, or L shapes (Chinese letters appearance). • Nonmotile, non-capsulated, and non-sporing. • Aerobes or facultative anaerobes, • Fastidious organisms; grows best at 37 °C on blood or serum-containing media such as Loeffler’s medium, tellurite medium, etc. • Ferment glucose, starch glycogen. • Catalase positive, non-pigmented, oxidase negative, indole negative, and do not form phosphatase. Albert Staining – Corynebacterium diphtheriae Pathogenesis of Corynebacterium diphtheriae Disease Transmission The source of infection is carriers who harbor the organisms in the oropharynx or skin. Human to human transmission is spread by respiratory d...

Diphtheria One sign of diphtheria is swollen glands (enlarged lymph nodes) in the neck. Diphtheria (dif-THEER-e-uh) is a serious bacterial infection that usually affects the mucous membranes of the nose and throat. Diphtheria is extremely rare in the United States and other developed countries thanks to widespread vaccination against the disease. However, many countries with limited health care or vaccination options still experience high rates of diphtheria. Symptoms Diphtheria signs and symptoms usually begin 2 to 5 days after a person becomes infected. Signs and symptoms may include: • A thick, gray membrane covering the throat and tonsils • A sore throat and hoarseness • Swollen glands (enlarged lymph nodes) in the neck • Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing • Nasal discharge • Fever and chills • Tiredness In some people, infection with diphtheria-causing bacteria causes only a mild illness — or no obvious signs and symptoms at all. Infected people who stay unaware of their illness are known as carriers of diphtheria. They're called carriers because they can spread the infection without being sick themselves. Skin (cutaneous) diphtheria A second type of diphtheria can affect the skin, causing pain, redness and swelling similar to other bacterial skin infections. Ulcers covered by a gray membrane also may be a sign of skin diphtheria. Although it's more common in tropical climates, diphtheria on the skin also occurs in the United States. It may happen especially amon...

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...

Characteristics Psuedomembrane of C. diphtheriae Corynebacterium diphtheriae also known as Klebs-Löffler bacillus is a Gram-positive bacillus responsible for causing diphtheria. Once a major cause of illness and death among children, diphtheria became a rare disease after the administration of vaccination. The genus and species names are derived from the Greek word: korynee (“club”) after the microscopic appearance of the organisms and diphtheria (“leather hide”) for the pseudomembrane that is the hallmark of respiratory tract infection. Table of Contents • • • • • • • • • • • • • • General properties • Gram-positive rods, that are club-shaped due to the presence of metachromatic (volutin) granules at one or both ends. Cells are arranged singly, in “palisades” of parallel cells, or in pairs that remain connected after cell division to form V, or L shapes (Chinese letters appearance). • Nonmotile, non-capsulated, and non-sporing. • Aerobes or facultative anaerobes, • Fastidious organisms; grows best at 37 °C on blood or serum-containing media such as Loeffler’s medium, tellurite medium, etc. • Ferment glucose, starch glycogen. • Catalase positive, non-pigmented, oxidase negative, indole negative, and do not form phosphatase. Albert Staining – Corynebacterium diphtheriae Pathogenesis of Corynebacterium diphtheriae Disease Transmission The source of infection is carriers who harbor the organisms in the oropharynx or skin. Human to human transmission is spread by respiratory d...

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...