Johns Hopkins ABX Guide
Corynebacterium diphtheriae (Diphtheria)
MICROBIOLOGY
- Pleomorphic Gram-positive bacillus that is club-shaped appears like Chinese characters on Gram stain [Fig1].
- Facultative anaerobe.
- Humans are only known hosts.
- Diphtheria is caused only by exotoxin-producing strains of C. diphtheriae.
- Three Corynebacterium strains may produce diphtheria toxin:
- C. diphtheriae (epidemic diphtheria w/ person-person spread)
- C. ulcerans
- C. pseudotuberculosis
- C. ulcerans and C. pseudotuberculosis are less common and associated with farm/dairy contacts.
- Virulent C. diphtheria strains carry a bacteriophage with the diphtheria toxin gene. Without this bacteriophage, the microbe is unable to cause serious disease.
- Culture is best performed on tellurite-selective media, e.g., Tinsdale agar.
- The demonstration of an immunoprecipitation band confirms toxin production.
- CDC provides laboratory support for state/local health departments.
- Elek immunodiffusion assay for C. diphtheriae and C. ulcerans isolates
- CDC provides laboratory support for state/local health departments.
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Last updated: June 8, 2024
Citation
Auwaerter, Paul. "Corynebacterium Diphtheriae (Diphtheria)." Johns Hopkins ABX Guide, The Johns Hopkins University, 2024. Pediatrics Central, peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540144/all/Corynebacterium_diphtheriae__Diphtheria_.
Auwaerter P. Corynebacterium diphtheriae (Diphtheria). Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2024. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540144/all/Corynebacterium_diphtheriae__Diphtheria_. Accessed June 22, 2024.
Auwaerter, P. (2024). Corynebacterium diphtheriae (Diphtheria). In Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540144/all/Corynebacterium_diphtheriae__Diphtheria_
Auwaerter P. Corynebacterium Diphtheriae (Diphtheria) [Internet]. In: Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2024. [cited 2024 June 22]. Available from: https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540144/all/Corynebacterium_diphtheriae__Diphtheria_.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
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