Nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae: An Emerging Pathogen in England and Wales?

• Main Authors: Mark Reacher, Mary Ramsay, Joanne White, Aruni De Zoysa, Androulla Efstratiou, Gina Mann, Andrew Mackay, Robert C. George
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2000-12-01
• Series: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: C. diphtheriae; corynebacterium diphtheriae; England; nontoxigenic; United Kingdom; Wales
• Online Access: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/6/6/00-0614_article

Confirmed isolates of nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae in England and Wales increased substantially from 1986 to 1994. Ribotyping of 121 isolates confirmed in 1995 showed that 90 were of a single strain isolated exclusively from the throat; none had previously been identified in toxigenic strains from U.K. or non-U.K. residents. The upward trend in nontoxigenic C. diphtheriae probably represented increased ascertainment, although dissemination of a particular strain or clone may have been a factor.