Diphtheria (Corynebacterium diphtheriae)
2010 Case Definition
Diphtheria (Corynebacterium diphtheriae)
2010 Case Definition
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2010 Case Definition
CSTE Position Statement(s)
- 09-ID-05
Case Classification
Probable
In the absence of a more likely diagnosis, an upper respiratory tract illness with:
- An adherent membrane of the nose, pharynx, tonsils, or larynx; AND
- Absence of laboratory confirmation; AND
- Lack of epidemiologic linkage to a laboratory-confirmed case of diphtheria.
Confirmed
An upper respiratory tract illness with an adherent membrane of the nose, pharynx, tonsils, or larynx; and any of the following:
- Isolation of Corynebacterium diphtheriae from the nose or throat; OR
- Histopathologic diagnosis of diphtheria; OR
- Epidemiologic linkage to a laboratory-confirmed case of diphtheria.
Related Case Definition(s)
Last Reviewed: April 16, 2021