Toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae–Associated Genital Ulceration

Abstract

In October 2016, an adolescent boy sought care for acute genital ulceration in Cologne, Germany. We presumed a sexually transmitted infection, but initial diagnostic procedures yielded negative results. He was hospitalized because swab samples from the lesion grew toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae, leading to the diagnosis of possibly sexually transmitted cutaneous diphtheria.

Keywords

• Sexually transmitted infections
• sexually transmitted diseases
• child refugee
• cutaneous diphtheria
• genital ulcer disease
• bacteria