Emerging Infectious Diseases (Aug 2023)

Emerging Corynebacterium diphtheriae Species Complex Infections, Réunion Island, France, 2015–2020

  • Thomas Garrigos,
  • Anais Grimal,
  • Edgar Badell,
  • Nicolas Traversier,
  • Sandrine Picot,
  • Anne Lignereux,
  • Mahery Ramiandrisoa,
  • Céline Ben Cimon,
  • Marie-Christine Jaffar-Bandjee,
  • Houssein Gbaguidi-Haore,
  • Julie Toubiana,
  • Sylvain Brisse,
  • Guillaume Miltgen,
  • Olivier Belmonte

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2908.230106
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 29, no. 8
pp. 1630 – 1633

Abstract

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Clinical, epidemiologic, and microbiologic analyses revealed emergence of 26 cases of Corynebacterium diphtheriae species complex infections on Réunion Island, France, during 2015–2020. Isolates were genetically diverse, indicating circulation and local transmission of several diphtheria sublineages. Clinicians should remain aware of the risk for diphtheria and improve diagnostic methods and patient management.

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