Faculty Collaboration Database

A Case of Necrotizing Epiglottitis Due to Nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Pediatrics 2015 Jul;136(1):e242-5

Date

06/10/2015

Pubmed ID

26055849

DOI

10.1542/peds.2014-3157

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84934289025 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   12 Citations

Abstract

Diphtheria is a rare cause of infection in highly vaccinated populations and may not be recognized by modern clinicians. Infections by nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae are emerging. We report the first case of necrotizing epiglottitis secondary to nontoxigenic C diphtheriae. A fully vaccinated child developed fever, poor oral intake, and sore throat and was found to have necrotizing epiglottitis. Necrotizing epiglottitis predominantly occurs in the immunocompromised host. Laboratory evaluation revealed pancytopenia, and bone marrow biopsy was diagnostic for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Clinicians should be aware of aggressive infections that identify immunocompromised patients. This case highlights the features of a reemerging pathogen, C diphtheriae.

Author List

Lake JA, Ehrhardt MJ, Suchi M, Chun RH, Willoughby RE

Authors

Robert H. Chun MD Professor in the Otolaryngology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Mariko Suchi MD, PhD Professor in the Pathology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Rodney E. Willoughby MD Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Child, Preschool
Corynebacterium Infections
Corynebacterium diphtheriae
Epiglottitis
Female
Humans
Immunocompromised Host
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
Necrosis