Cutaneous diphtheria complicated oncologic reconstruction surgery in osteosarcoma

Abstract

Abstract Diphtheria is an uncommon bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract. We described a surgical site infection in a young adolescent female on maintenance chemotherapy. Corynebacterium diphtheriae was recovered from the wound, and she was treated with antibiotics and antitoxin. Cutaneous diphtheria should be considered in immunocompromised patients receiving chemotherapy.

Keywords

• Corynebacterium diphtheriae; infection
• osteosarcoma
• soft tissue; infection
• surgical wound; tumor