Picture 11

This pciture shows Corynebacterium diphtheriae in Gram stain.

Corynebacterium diphtheriae

Morphology: Gram positive, club-shaped rods arranged in V or L formations, do not exhibit tumbling movement of Listeria

Route of transmission: fomites, air-borne droplets

Investigations: Gram stain and culture, examination of pharynx and tonsils for pseudomembrane formation

Diseases:

Diphtheria - tonsillopharyngeal, cutaneous

Toxic myocarditis, polyneuritis

Pneumonia

Treatment:

Antitoxin

Penicillin G, Erythromycin, Rifampin or Clindamycin to eliminate carrier state

DPT vaccine for prevention

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