TABLE 1.
Diphtheria surveillance as described in the guidelines of the National Surveillance Network
| Site of infection | Definition | Action requireda |
|---|---|---|
| Respiratory diphtheria | ||
| Suspected case | A person who meets the clinical criteria, i.e., upper respiratory tract disease with laryngitis, nasopharyngitis, or tonsillitis and a membrane or pseudomembrane. | Notify the CCAES and the CNE |
| Probable case | A person who meets the clinical criteria and has an epidemiologic link with a confirmed human or animal case. | |
| Confirmed case | A person who meets the clinical and laboratory criteria, i.e., isolation of toxigenic C. diphtheriae, C. ulcerans, or C. pseudotuberculosis, in a clinical specimen (Elek test positive). The test must be confirmed at the CNMb. | |
| Cutaneous diphtheria | ||
| Confirmed case | A person who meets the clinical criteria, i.e., chronic nonprogressive ulcerative lesion that may appear with a dirty gray membrane and the laboratory criteria, i.e., isolation of toxigenic C. diphtheriae, C. ulcerans, or C. pseudotuberculosis, in a clinical specimen (Elek test positive). The test must be confirmed at the CNM. | Notify CNE |
| Diphtheria in other localization | ||
| Confirmed case | A person who meets the clinical criteria, i.e., a conjunctiva or mucosal lesion and laboratory criteria, i.e., isolation of toxigenic C. diphtheriae, C. ulcerans, or C. pseudotuberculosis, in a clinical specimen (Elek test positive). The test must be confirmed at the CNM. | Notify CNE |
a
CCAES, Health Alert and Emergency Coordination Centre; CNE, National Centre for Epidemiology.
bCNM, National Centre for Microbiology.