Chapter IV Coryneb acterium diphtheriae: Microbiological Methods Used in Clinical and Epidemiological Investigations

Abstract

Publisher Summary The chapter discusses the background of the practical methods applied by bacteriologists in diagnosing diphtheria in a suspected case and/or in helping the epidemiologist uncover epidemic relationships in diphtheria outbreaks or in endemic conditions. Corynebacterium diphtheriae , the causative agent of diphtheria, is usually found in the upper respiratory tract, on the skin, conjunctiva, and vagina. A dramatic decline of diphtheria morbidity and mortality has been recorded during the decades since the introduction of modern prophylactic and therapeutic agents. There are, however, many convincing arguments that support the investigation and control of diphtheria as a mass infection. Cutaneous diphtheria and skin carriage frequent in native populations of tropical countries represent a possible connection between epidemics. The chapter also discusses the principles of epidemiological methodology in the prevention and control of diphtheria. Cutaneous diphtheria and skin carriage frequent in native populations of tropical countries represent a possible connection between epidemics.