Diptheria Flashcards
What is the bacteria that causes diphtheria? Gram positive or gram negative?
Corynebacterium diphtheria
Gram positive
It is a toxin mediated illness
What is the incubation period of diphtheria?
2-5 days
How is diphtheria transmitted?
airborne or contact with infection secretions or lesions
What are the clinical manifestations of diphtheria? Possible complications?
Pseudomembranous nasopharyngitis, low grade fever, sore throat, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing or breathing
Complications could include myocarditis and peripheral neuropathies
What is a classic clinical appearance of a patient with diphtheria?
“bull neck” with conjunctivitis, pharyngeal membrane, severe myocarditis–look and feel sick
How do you diagnose diphtheria?
Obtain membranous sample from throat or nose and treat with antitoxin from the CDC, then kill bacteria with Erythromycin or penicillin for 14 days
What immunization can be administered to prevent diphtheria?
DTap immunization
What type of precautions may be necessary for patients with pharyngeal diphtheria?
droplet precautions
If not immunized, carriers should receive (active/inactive) immunization after illness has ended.
active
