Diphtheria

Diptheria

Corynebacterium diptheriae (+ phage toxin)

Gram-positive rod, aerobic, nonmotile, abundant fimbiae, produces diptheria exotoxin

Humans

Respiratory Tract

Aerosol respiratory droplets, contact with contaminated body fluids

2-5 days

Bacteria colonize upper respiratory tract and form a pseudomembrane that can obstruct the airway. They also secrete exotoxins that enter the bloodstream and inhibit protien synthesis in cells of the heart, kidneys, and nervous tissue resulting in paralysis and organ damage

Adherent psuedomembrane, fever, bleeding, sore throat and difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, swollen lymph nodes, perceptible sweet smell, paralysis (first swallowing muscle), change to heart rhythem

Protien- 535 amino acid, A-B Toxin, Lethal Dose = 100ng/kg body weight

EF2 inhibitor

receptor

Blocking of the airway, damage to the heart muscle (myocarditis), nerve damage (polyneuropathy), kidney damage, paralysis, lung infection, current mortality rate 5-10% (up to 20% in individuals <5yrs and >40 yrs)

Vaccination- 1923 toxoid vaccine. created by heat and formaldehyde denaturation; current vaccines DTap, Tdap, DT, and Td

Antiserum (immunoglobulins)- Antitoxin therapy 1901, diphtheria antitoxin (DAT); Antibiotics- Penicillin, Erythromycine