title: A Case of Necrotizing Epiglottitis Due to Nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
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.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics, jelake@mcw.edu.
authors.forename: Jessica A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lake
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ehrhardt
authors.affiliation: Pathology.
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suchi
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology, and.
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and.
authors.forename: Rodney E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Willoughby
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003354:Corynebacterium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D003353:Corynebacterium diphtheriae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004826:Epiglottitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009336:Necrosis
keywords: B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia; Corynebacterium diphtheriae; diphtheria; immunocompromised host; necrotizing epiglottitis