Guidance

Diphtheria: isolates of toxigenic corynebacteria

Isolates of toxigenic corynebacteria in England and Wales 1986 to 2014.

This guidance was withdrawn on

This document has been withdrawn as it is out of date. For the latest data, see Diphtheria: notifications, deaths and laboratory isolates data.

The table attached shows the number of isolates of toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae and C. ulcerans in England and Wales for the years 1986 to 2014 by presentation for ‘classical’ diphtheria or ‘other’ which includes skin infections, milder respiratory infections and asymptomatic (no symptoms) cases.

The most characteristic feature of ‘classical’ respiratory diphtheria is a membranous pharyngitis (often referred to as a pseudo-membrane) with fever, enlarged anterior cervical lymph nodes and oedema of soft tissues giving a “bull neck” appearance.

[Withdrawn] Isolates of toxigenic corynebacteria England and Wales 1986 to 2014 (PDF, 107 KB, 1 page)

Published 31 March 2014