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Investigation of a Large Diphtheria Outbreak and Cocirculation of Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum Among Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals, 2017–2019

Abstract Background Diphtheria, a life-threatening respiratory disease, is caused mainly by toxin-producing strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae, while nontoxigenic corynebacteria (eg, Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum) rarely causes diphtheria-like illness. Recently, global diphtheria outbreak...

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Published in:The Journal of infectious diseases 2021-07, Vol.224 (2), p.318-325
Main Authors: Weil, Lauren M, Williams, Margaret M, Shirin, Tahmina, Lawrence, Marlon, Habib, Zakir H, Aneke, Janessa S, Tondella, Maria L, Zaki, Quazi, Cassiday, Pamela K, Lonsway, David, Farrque, Mirza, Hossen, Tanvir, Feldstein, Leora R, Cook, Nicholas, Maldonado-Quiles, Gladys, Alam, Ahmed N, Muraduzzaman, A K M, Akram, Arifa, Conklin, Laura, Doan, Stephanie, Friedman, Michael, Acosta, Anna M, Hariri, Susan, Fox, LeAnne M, Tiwari, Tejpratap S P, Flora, Meerjady S
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cited_by cdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-c453t-4883506f611529c48cd35cdbbe87f83c1dc8309f328fd37031fe8f5cb74910e73
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container_issue 2
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container_title The Journal of infectious diseases
container_volume 224
creator Weil, Lauren M
Williams, Margaret M
Shirin, Tahmina
Lawrence, Marlon
Habib, Zakir H
Aneke, Janessa S
Tondella, Maria L
Zaki, Quazi
Cassiday, Pamela K
Lonsway, David
Farrque, Mirza
Hossen, Tanvir
Feldstein, Leora R
Cook, Nicholas
Maldonado-Quiles, Gladys
Alam, Ahmed N
Muraduzzaman, A K M
Akram, Arifa
Conklin, Laura
Doan, Stephanie
Friedman, Michael
Acosta, Anna M
Hariri, Susan
Fox, LeAnne M
Tiwari, Tejpratap S P
Flora, Meerjady S
description Abstract Background Diphtheria, a life-threatening respiratory disease, is caused mainly by toxin-producing strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae, while nontoxigenic corynebacteria (eg, Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum) rarely causes diphtheria-like illness. Recently, global diphtheria outbreaks have resulted from breakdown of health care infrastructures, particularly in countries experiencing political conflict. This report summarizes a laboratory and epidemiological investigation of a diphtheria outbreak among forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals in Bangladesh. Methods Specimens and clinical information were collected from patients presenting at diphtheria treatment centers. Swabs were tested for toxin gene (tox)-bearing C. diphtheriae by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and culture. The isolation of another Corynebacterium species prompted further laboratory investigation. Results Among 382 patients, 153 (40%) tested tox positive for C. diphtheriae by RT-PCR; 31 (20%) PCR-positive swabs were culture confirmed. RT-PCR revealed 78% (298/382) of patients tested positive for C. pseudodiphtheriticum. Of patients positive for only C. diphtheriae, 63% (17/27) had severe disease compared to 55% (69/126) positive for both Corynebacterium species, and 38% (66/172) for only C. pseudodiphtheriticum. Conclusions We report confirmation of a diphtheria outbreak and identification of a cocirculating Corynebacterium species. The high proportion of C. pseudodiphtheriticum codetection may explain why many suspected patients testing negative for C. diphtheriae presented with diphtheria-like symptoms. We confirmed a large diphtheria outbreak among the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals in Bangladesh and identified frequent cocirculation with azithromycin-resistant C. pseudodiphtheriticum among cases. Our investigation highlights the need to better understand the role of C. pseudodiphtheriticum as a pathogen.
doi_str_mv 10.1093/infdis/jiaa729
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Recently, global diphtheria outbreaks have resulted from breakdown of health care infrastructures, particularly in countries experiencing political conflict. This report summarizes a laboratory and epidemiological investigation of a diphtheria outbreak among forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals in Bangladesh. Methods Specimens and clinical information were collected from patients presenting at diphtheria treatment centers. Swabs were tested for toxin gene (tox)-bearing C. diphtheriae by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and culture. The isolation of another Corynebacterium species prompted further laboratory investigation. Results Among 382 patients, 153 (40%) tested tox positive for C. diphtheriae by RT-PCR; 31 (20%) PCR-positive swabs were culture confirmed. RT-PCR revealed 78% (298/382) of patients tested positive for C. pseudodiphtheriticum. Of patients positive for only C. diphtheriae, 63% (17/27) had severe disease compared to 55% (69/126) positive for both Corynebacterium species, and 38% (66/172) for only C. pseudodiphtheriticum. Conclusions We report confirmation of a diphtheria outbreak and identification of a cocirculating Corynebacterium species. The high proportion of C. pseudodiphtheriticum codetection may explain why many suspected patients testing negative for C. diphtheriae presented with diphtheria-like symptoms. We confirmed a large diphtheria outbreak among the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals in Bangladesh and identified frequent cocirculation with azithromycin-resistant C. pseudodiphtheriticum among cases. Our investigation highlights the need to better understand the role of C. pseudodiphtheriticum as a pathogen.</description><identifier>ISSN: 0022-1899</identifier><identifier>EISSN: 1537-6613</identifier><identifier>DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa729</identifier><identifier>PMID: 33245764</identifier><language>eng</language><publisher>US: Oxford University Press</publisher><subject>Corynebacterium ; Corynebacterium - isolation &amp; purification ; Corynebacterium diphtheriae - isolation &amp; purification ; Diphtheria ; Diphtheria - epidemiology ; Diphtheria Toxin ; Disease Outbreaks ; Epidemics ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Laboratories ; Myanmar - epidemiology ; Outbreaks ; Patients ; Polymerase chain reaction ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Respiratory diseases ; Species</subject><ispartof>The Journal of infectious diseases, 2021-07, Vol.224 (2), p.318-325</ispartof><rights>Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America 2020. 2020</rights><rights>Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America 2020.</rights><lds50>peer_reviewed</lds50><oa>free_for_read</oa><woscitedreferencessubscribed>false</woscitedreferencessubscribed><citedby>FETCH-LOGICAL-c453t-4883506f611529c48cd35cdbbe87f83c1dc8309f328fd37031fe8f5cb74910e73</citedby><cites>FETCH-LOGICAL-c453t-4883506f611529c48cd35cdbbe87f83c1dc8309f328fd37031fe8f5cb74910e73</cites></display><links><openurl>$$Topenurl_article</openurl><openurlfulltext>$$Topenurlfull_article</openurlfulltext><thumbnail>$$Tsyndetics_thumb_exl</thumbnail><link.rule.ids>230,315,786,790,891,27957,27958</link.rule.ids><backlink>$$Uhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33245764$$D View this record in MEDLINE/PubMed$$Hfree_for_read</backlink></links><search><creatorcontrib>Weil, Lauren M</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Williams, Margaret M</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Shirin, Tahmina</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Lawrence, Marlon</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Habib, Zakir H</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Aneke, Janessa S</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Tondella, Maria L</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Zaki, Quazi</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Cassiday, Pamela K</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Lonsway, David</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Farrque, Mirza</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Hossen, Tanvir</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Feldstein, Leora R</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Cook, Nicholas</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Maldonado-Quiles, Gladys</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Alam, Ahmed N</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Muraduzzaman, A K M</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Akram, Arifa</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Conklin, Laura</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Doan, Stephanie</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Friedman, Michael</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Acosta, Anna M</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Hariri, Susan</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Fox, LeAnne M</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Tiwari, Tejpratap S P</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Flora, Meerjady S</creatorcontrib><title>Investigation of a Large Diphtheria Outbreak and Cocirculation of Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum Among Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals, 2017–2019</title><title>The Journal of infectious diseases</title><addtitle>J Infect Dis</addtitle><description>Abstract Background Diphtheria, a life-threatening respiratory disease, is caused mainly by toxin-producing strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae, while nontoxigenic corynebacteria (eg, Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum) rarely causes diphtheria-like illness. Recently, global diphtheria outbreaks have resulted from breakdown of health care infrastructures, particularly in countries experiencing political conflict. This report summarizes a laboratory and epidemiological investigation of a diphtheria outbreak among forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals in Bangladesh. Methods Specimens and clinical information were collected from patients presenting at diphtheria treatment centers. Swabs were tested for toxin gene (tox)-bearing C. diphtheriae by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and culture. The isolation of another Corynebacterium species prompted further laboratory investigation. Results Among 382 patients, 153 (40%) tested tox positive for C. diphtheriae by RT-PCR; 31 (20%) PCR-positive swabs were culture confirmed. RT-PCR revealed 78% (298/382) of patients tested positive for C. pseudodiphtheriticum. Of patients positive for only C. diphtheriae, 63% (17/27) had severe disease compared to 55% (69/126) positive for both Corynebacterium species, and 38% (66/172) for only C. pseudodiphtheriticum. Conclusions We report confirmation of a diphtheria outbreak and identification of a cocirculating Corynebacterium species. The high proportion of C. pseudodiphtheriticum codetection may explain why many suspected patients testing negative for C. diphtheriae presented with diphtheria-like symptoms. We confirmed a large diphtheria outbreak among the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals in Bangladesh and identified frequent cocirculation with azithromycin-resistant C. pseudodiphtheriticum among cases. 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Williams, Margaret M ; Shirin, Tahmina ; Lawrence, Marlon ; Habib, Zakir H ; Aneke, Janessa S ; Tondella, Maria L ; Zaki, Quazi ; Cassiday, Pamela K ; Lonsway, David ; Farrque, Mirza ; Hossen, Tanvir ; Feldstein, Leora R ; Cook, Nicholas ; Maldonado-Quiles, Gladys ; Alam, Ahmed N ; Muraduzzaman, A K M ; Akram, Arifa ; Conklin, Laura ; Doan, Stephanie ; Friedman, Michael ; Acosta, Anna M ; Hariri, Susan ; Fox, LeAnne M ; Tiwari, Tejpratap S P ; Flora, Meerjady S</author></sort><facets><frbrtype>5</frbrtype><frbrgroupid>cdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-c453t-4883506f611529c48cd35cdbbe87f83c1dc8309f328fd37031fe8f5cb74910e73</frbrgroupid><rsrctype>articles</rsrctype><prefilter>articles</prefilter><language>eng</language><creationdate>2021</creationdate><topic>Corynebacterium</topic><topic>Corynebacterium - isolation &amp; purification</topic><topic>Corynebacterium diphtheriae - isolation &amp; purification</topic><topic>Diphtheria</topic><topic>Diphtheria - epidemiology</topic><topic>Diphtheria Toxin</topic><topic>Disease Outbreaks</topic><topic>Epidemics</topic><topic>Epidemiology</topic><topic>Humans</topic><topic>Laboratories</topic><topic>Myanmar - epidemiology</topic><topic>Outbreaks</topic><topic>Patients</topic><topic>Polymerase chain reaction</topic><topic>Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction</topic><topic>Respiratory diseases</topic><topic>Species</topic><toplevel>peer_reviewed</toplevel><toplevel>online_resources</toplevel><creatorcontrib>Weil, Lauren M</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Williams, Margaret M</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Shirin, Tahmina</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Lawrence, Marlon</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Habib, Zakir H</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Aneke, Janessa S</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Tondella, Maria L</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Zaki, Quazi</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Cassiday, Pamela K</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Lonsway, David</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Farrque, Mirza</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Hossen, Tanvir</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Feldstein, Leora R</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Cook, Nicholas</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Maldonado-Quiles, Gladys</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Alam, Ahmed N</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Muraduzzaman, A K M</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Akram, Arifa</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Conklin, Laura</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Doan, Stephanie</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Friedman, Michael</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Acosta, Anna M</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Hariri, Susan</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Fox, LeAnne M</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Tiwari, Tejpratap S P</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Flora, Meerjady S</creatorcontrib><collection>Medline</collection><collection>MEDLINE</collection><collection>MEDLINE (Ovid)</collection><collection>MEDLINE</collection><collection>MEDLINE</collection><collection>PubMed</collection><collection>CrossRef</collection><collection>ProQuest Health &amp; Medical Complete (Alumni)</collection><collection>Nursing &amp; Allied Health Premium</collection><collection>MEDLINE - Academic</collection><collection>PubMed Central (Full Participant titles)</collection><jtitle>The Journal of infectious diseases</jtitle></facets><delivery><delcategory>Remote Search Resource</delcategory><fulltext>fulltext</fulltext></delivery><addata><au>Weil, Lauren M</au><au>Williams, Margaret M</au><au>Shirin, Tahmina</au><au>Lawrence, Marlon</au><au>Habib, Zakir H</au><au>Aneke, Janessa S</au><au>Tondella, Maria L</au><au>Zaki, Quazi</au><au>Cassiday, Pamela K</au><au>Lonsway, David</au><au>Farrque, Mirza</au><au>Hossen, Tanvir</au><au>Feldstein, Leora R</au><au>Cook, Nicholas</au><au>Maldonado-Quiles, Gladys</au><au>Alam, Ahmed N</au><au>Muraduzzaman, A K M</au><au>Akram, Arifa</au><au>Conklin, Laura</au><au>Doan, Stephanie</au><au>Friedman, Michael</au><au>Acosta, Anna M</au><au>Hariri, Susan</au><au>Fox, LeAnne M</au><au>Tiwari, Tejpratap S P</au><au>Flora, Meerjady S</au><format>journal</format><genre>article</genre><ristype>JOUR</ristype><atitle>Investigation of a Large Diphtheria Outbreak and Cocirculation of Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum Among Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals, 2017–2019</atitle><jtitle>The Journal of infectious diseases</jtitle><addtitle>J Infect Dis</addtitle><date>2021-07-15</date><risdate>2021</risdate><volume>224</volume><issue>2</issue><spage>318</spage><epage>325</epage><pages>318-325</pages><issn>0022-1899</issn><eissn>1537-6613</eissn><notes>ObjectType-Article-1</notes><notes>SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1</notes><notes>ObjectType-Feature-2</notes><notes>content type line 23</notes><notes>Present affiliation: Division of Influenza, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.</notes><notes>Present affiliation: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.</notes><notes>Present affiliation: Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.</notes><notes>Present affiliation: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.</notes><notes>Present affiliation: Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.</notes><notes>Present affiliation: Office of the Director, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.</notes><notes>Present affiliation: Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dhaka, Bangladesh</notes><notes>Present affiliation: Public Health Laboratory, Virgin Islands Department of Health, US Virgin Islands.</notes><notes>Present affiliation: Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.</notes><abstract>Abstract Background Diphtheria, a life-threatening respiratory disease, is caused mainly by toxin-producing strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae, while nontoxigenic corynebacteria (eg, Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum) rarely causes diphtheria-like illness. Recently, global diphtheria outbreaks have resulted from breakdown of health care infrastructures, particularly in countries experiencing political conflict. This report summarizes a laboratory and epidemiological investigation of a diphtheria outbreak among forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals in Bangladesh. Methods Specimens and clinical information were collected from patients presenting at diphtheria treatment centers. Swabs were tested for toxin gene (tox)-bearing C. diphtheriae by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and culture. The isolation of another Corynebacterium species prompted further laboratory investigation. Results Among 382 patients, 153 (40%) tested tox positive for C. diphtheriae by RT-PCR; 31 (20%) PCR-positive swabs were culture confirmed. RT-PCR revealed 78% (298/382) of patients tested positive for C. pseudodiphtheriticum. Of patients positive for only C. diphtheriae, 63% (17/27) had severe disease compared to 55% (69/126) positive for both Corynebacterium species, and 38% (66/172) for only C. pseudodiphtheriticum. Conclusions We report confirmation of a diphtheria outbreak and identification of a cocirculating Corynebacterium species. The high proportion of C. pseudodiphtheriticum codetection may explain why many suspected patients testing negative for C. diphtheriae presented with diphtheria-like symptoms. We confirmed a large diphtheria outbreak among the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals in Bangladesh and identified frequent cocirculation with azithromycin-resistant C. pseudodiphtheriticum among cases. Our investigation highlights the need to better understand the role of C. pseudodiphtheriticum as a pathogen.</abstract><cop>US</cop><pub>Oxford University Press</pub><pmid>33245764</pmid><doi>10.1093/infdis/jiaa729</doi><tpages>8</tpages><oa>free_for_read</oa></addata></record>
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identifier ISSN: 0022-1899
ispartof The Journal of infectious diseases, 2021-07, Vol.224 (2), p.318-325
issn 0022-1899
1537-6613
language eng
recordid cdi_pubmedcentral_primary_oai_pubmedcentral_nih_gov_10846527
source Oxford University Press
subjects Corynebacterium
Corynebacterium - isolation & purification
Corynebacterium diphtheriae - isolation & purification
Diphtheria
Diphtheria - epidemiology
Diphtheria Toxin
Disease Outbreaks
Epidemics
Epidemiology
Humans
Laboratories
Myanmar - epidemiology
Outbreaks
Patients
Polymerase chain reaction
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Respiratory diseases
Species
title Investigation of a Large Diphtheria Outbreak and Cocirculation of Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum Among Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals, 2017–2019
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