title: Nontoxigenic corynebacterium diphtheriae: an emerging pathogen in England and Wales?
abstract: Confirmed isolates of nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae in England and Wales increased substantially from 1986 to 1994. Ribotyping of 121 isolates confirmed in 1995 showed that 90 were of a single strain isolated exclusively from the throat; none had previously been identified in toxigenic strains from U.K. or non-U.K. residents. The upward trend in nontoxigenic C. diphtheriae probably represented increased ascertainment, although dissemination of a particular strain or clone may have been a factor.
authors.affiliation: Public Health Laboratory Service, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reacher
authors.affiliation: Public Health Laboratory Service, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramsay
authors.affiliation: Public Health Laboratory Service, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Public Health Laboratory Service, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Aruni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Zoysa
authors.affiliation: Public Health Laboratory Service, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Androulla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Efstratiou
authors.affiliation: Public Health Laboratory Service, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.affiliation: Greenwich District General Hospital, Vanbrugh Hill, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mackay
authors.affiliation: Public Health Laboratory Service, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: George
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003353:Corynebacterium diphtheriae / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004165:Diphtheria / Q000209:etiology; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D021521:Ribotyping; D012307:Risk Factors; D014852:Wales