Medical Microbiolology Hosts Update on Diphtheria

BY: .

Eight confirmed cases of Corynebacterium diphtheria have been recorded thus far in the province of KwaZulu-Natal following the recent outbreak of this highly contagious bacterial disease.

A full-house of medical practitioners and the nursing fraternity from the province attended Laboratory and Clinical update on diphtheria which took place at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, organised by UKZN and National Health Laboratory Service’s Department of Medical Microbiology headed by Professor Koleka Mlisana.

The patients infected with this bacterium were from the eThekwini and Ugu districts, alarming doctors because while diphtheria was once a major cause of childhood illnesses and mortality in the early 90’s, the global incidence dropped dramatically with improved health interventions such as childhood immunisations.

Mlisana said there was a pressing need to raise awareness about the disease to hospitals and clinics across the province so that clinicians would know how to manage a patient presenting with symptoms of the condition timeously.

‘As far as we know, the organism only has a human reservoir,’ said Dr Melissa Lawler a compassionate paediatrician subspecialised in infectious diseases, who updated clinicians about case management of suspected diphtheria.

Lawler said children who were unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated until the age of six as should be reflected in the Department of Health (DoH) endorsed “Road to Health Chart” were at the highest risk of presenting with diphtheria, and all these children needed to be urgently vaccinated.

Attendees were alerted to infection and prevention control considerations for suspected diphtheria and Dr Zodwa Seme said it was very important that clinical symptoms were picked up early and treatment was not delayed so as to improve morbidity in these patients. ‘Immediate treatment is imperative,’ she said. Management of close contacts of cases as well as other health practitioners exposed was included in the detailed discussion.

Four of the confirmed cases of diphtheria were presented in detail by Dr Sharana Mohamed at the seminar, and noticeably, each of the patients had not been vaccinated as scheduled at the age of six. This triggered a robust discussion focused on essential measures to take at the clinics and hospitals moving forward.

It was also reported that doctors were dealing with six pending cases of CD in addition to a final case of strong clinical suspicion.

The medical practitioners agreed that more public health interventions were needed to encourage mothers of new-born babies to ensure that their children are vaccinated as stipulated by the DoH because diphtheria is a preventable disease.

Lunga Memela