Diphtheria Summary:
- Affects upper respiratory tract and/or skin.
- Caused by action of diphtheria toxin produced by toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae or Corynebacterium ulcerans, both rare in the UK since the 1940s, cases often travel related but epidemiology is changing.
- Acute respiratory diphtheria requires early diagnosis & prompt, live saving-administration of diphtheria anti-toxin.
- UKHSA Health Protection Teams play an important role in the risk assessment of toxigenic cases: contact tracing, management investigation of source and outbreak management.
Read the full presentation here - Presentation for Investigation & Management- Slide Set for Primary Care