Potentially fatal contagious bacterial infection that mainly affects the nose and throat

Aetiology

• Caused by Corynebacterium diptheria
• Rare in UK due to vaccination

Pathophysiology

• The organism produces a potent exotoxin with is cardiotoxic and neurotoxic

Clinical features

• Severe sore throat with a grey-white membrane across the pharynx (pseudomembrane)

Management

• Antibiotic (penicillin/erythromycin)
• Antibiotic and diptheria antitoxin for severe cases
• Prevention - vaccination
  • Toxoid vaccine - made from a cell-free purified toxin extracted from a strain of C. dipththeriae