Corynebacterium diphtheriae Infections, South Africa, 2015-2023.

ABSTRACT: We reviewed Corynebacterium spp. infection cases reported in South Africa during 2015-2023. We analyzed 84 isolates from 83 patients with C. diphtheriae, as well as 1 C. belfantii and 3 C. ulcerans isolates. Among C. diphtheriae cases, we observed respiratory diphtheria (26/83 patients [31%]), endocarditis (14/83 [17%]), cutaneous diphtheria (22/83 [27%]), nonspecific respiratory illnesses (5/83 [6%]), and asymptomatic carriage (16/83 [19%]). The median patient age was 19 (range 0-88) years. Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccination was incomplete for 26% (5/19) or unknown for 68% (13/19) of children 0-9 years of age. C. diphtheriae was intermediately resistant to penicillin (82/84 [98%] isolates; MIC₉₀ 0.5 μg/mL) but susceptible to erythromycin (83/84 [99%] isolates; MIC_90<

SUBMITTER: du Plessis M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11878320 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature