Diphtheria Antitoxin Administration, Outcomes, and Safety: Response to a Diphtheria Outbreak in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Diphtheria has re-emerged over the past several years. There is a paucity of data on the administration and safety of diphtheria antitoxin (DAT), the standard treatment for diphtheria. The 2017-2018 outbreak among Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh was the largest in decades. We determined the outcomes of DAT-treated patients and describe the occurrence and risk factors associated with adverse reactions to DAT.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study at the Médecins Sans Frontières Rubber Garden Diphtheria Treatment Center from December 2017-September 2018. Diphtheria was diagnosed based on the World Health Organization clinical case criteria. High-acuity patients were eligible for DAT. Safety precautions were meticulously maintained. We calculated the presence of

SUBMITTER: Eisenberg N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8561263 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature