Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Diphtheria

Diphtheria is an acute, potentially fatal bacterial infection caused by toxigenic strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae, and occasionally related Corynebacterium species, that carry a bacteriophage encoding diphtheria toxin. The organism colonises the upper respiratory tract, where local production of the toxin kil…

Curated from this journal's research 📚 5 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 20× across the literature 🔖 ISSN 2997-1977 🗓 Reviewed June 2026

Overview

Diphtheria is an acute, potentially fatal bacterial infection caused by toxigenic strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae, and occasionally related Corynebacterium species, that carry a bacteriophage encoding diphtheria toxin. The organism colonises the upper respiratory tract, where local production of the toxin kills epithelial cells and generates a tough greyish pseudomembrane over the tonsils, pharynx, and larynx that can obstruct the airway. Absorbed toxin disseminates systemically and inhibits protein synthesis in host cells, causing damage to the heart, with myocarditis, and to the nervous system and kidneys, which accounts for much of the mortality. A cutaneous form produces chronic skin ulcers. Transmission occurs person to person through respiratory droplets or contact with infected secretions and skin lesions. Because the disease is toxin-mediated, prevention rests on immunisation with diphtheria toxoid, a cornerstone of routine childhood vaccination programmes that has made the disease rare where coverage is high, while outbreaks recur where immunity wanes or vaccination falters. Diagnosis combines clinical recognition with bacterial culture and toxin detection. Management requires prompt administration of diphtheria antitoxin to neutralise circulating toxin, antibiotics to eliminate the organism and halt toxin production, airway protection, and isolation, alongside investigation and vaccination of contacts.

Research published in this journal

5 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

How this research is being cited

The 5 articles above have been cited 20 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Diphtheria, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in Diseases (ISSN 2997-1977).

Journal editorial board
Madalena Barroso · Germany VASSILIKI PITIRIGA · Greece Andrzej Prystupa · Poland

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.