Diphtheria (Corynebacterium diphtheriae, C. ulcerans, C. pseudotuberculosis (toxin producing))

Clinical criteria
Any person with at least one of the following clinical forms:

Classic respiratory diphtheria:
An upper respiratory tract illness with laryngitis or nasopharyngitis or tonsillitis
AND an adherent membrane/pseudomembrane

Mild respiratory diphtheria:
An upper respiratory tract illness with laryngitis or nasopharyngitis or tonsillitis
WITHOUT an adherent membrane/pseudomembrane.

Cutaneous diphtheria: skin lesion

Diphtheria of other sites: lesion of conjunctiva or mucous membranes

Laboratory criteria
Isolation of toxin producing C. diphtheriae, C. ulcerans or C. pseudotuberculosis from a clinical specimen

Epidemiological criteria
An epidemiological link to a confirmed case (human or animal)

Case classification
A. Possible case
Any person meeting the clinical criteria for classical respiratory diphtheria
B. Probable case
Any person meeting the clinical criteria for diphtheria (classic respiratory diphtheria, mild respiratory diphtheria, cutaneous diphtheria, diphtheria of other sites) with an epidemiological link to a confirmed case (human or animal)
C. Confirmed case
Any person meeting the laboratory criteria and at least one of the clinical forms

Note:
Non toxigenic C. diphtheriae, C. ulcerans or C. pseudotuberculosis should not be notified

Current as of: 24 January 2019