Diphtheria

Diphtheria 1. Class 1B case report required. a. Every case or suspected case of diphtheria shall be isolated until 2 cultures from the throat and 2 from the nose taken not less than 24 hours apart and not less than 24 hours after antibiotic therapy fail to show diphtheria bacilli. Where culturing is impractical, isolation may be ended after 14 days of appropriate antibiotic treatment. In suspected cases, isolation may be terminated if laboratory and clinical findings fail to confirm the diagnosis. b. All articles in contact with a patient and all articles soiled by discharges of a patient shall be disinfected or disposed of in a manner acceptable to the health officer. c. At termination of isolation, the quarters shall undergo terminal disinfection. d. All close contacts should have cultures taken and should be kept under surveillance for 7 days. Adult contacts whose occupation involves handling food or close association with children must be excluded from these occupations until shown by bacteriological examination not to be carriers.