| Autor: |
Martini H; Department of Microbiology, National Reference Centre for toxigenic corynebacteria, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium., Soetens O; Department of Microbiology, National Reference Centre for toxigenic corynebacteria, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium., Litt D; Respiratory and Vaccine Preventable Bacteria Reference Unit, Public Health England - National Infection Service, London, UK., Fry NK; Immunisation and Countermeasures Division, Public Health England - National Infection Service, London, UK.; Respiratory and Vaccine Preventable Bacteria Reference Unit, Public Health England - National Infection Service, London, UK., Detemmerman L; Present address: LaCAR MDx Technologies, Liège, Belgium.; Department of Microbiology, National Reference Centre for toxigenic corynebacteria, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium., Wybo I; Department of Microbiology, National Reference Centre for toxigenic corynebacteria, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium., Desombere I; Present address: LaCAR MDx Technologies, Liège, Belgium.; SD Infectious Diseases in Humans, Service Immune Response, National Reference Centre for toxigenic corynebacteria, Sciensano (Public Health Belgium), Brussels, Belgium., Efstratiou A; WHO Global Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Diphtheria and Streptococcal Infections, Public Health England - National Infection Service, London, UK., Piérard D; Department of Microbiology, National Reference Centre for toxigenic corynebacteria, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium. |
| Abstrakt: |
In Western Europe, the incidence of both respiratory and cutaneous diphtheria, caused by toxin-producing Corynebacterium diphtheriae , Corynebacterium ulcerans or Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis , has been low over the past few decades thanks to the use of an effective vaccine and a high level of vaccination coverage. However, the disease has still not been eradicated and continues to occur in all of Europe. In order to prevent sequelae or a fatal outcome, diphtheria antitoxin (DAT) should be administered to suspected diphtheria patients as soon as possible, but economic factors and issues concerning regulations have led to poor availability of DAT in many countries. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and World Health Organization have called for European Union-wide solutions to this DAT-shortage. In order to illustrate the importance of these efforts and underline the need for continued diphtheria surveillance, we present data on all registered cases of toxigenic and non-toxigenic C. diphtheriae , C. ulcerans and C. pseudotuberculosis in Belgium during the past decade, up to and including 2017. |
