Diphtheria: characteristics of the pathogen and laboratory diagnostics (lecture).

The problem of diphtheria infection remains relevant, since the circulation of toxigenic strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae persists in the body of bacterial carriers, despite ongoing vaccination. The lecture presents modern ideas about the properties of the pathogen, its pathogenicity factors (toxin, pili, surface proteins (67-72P (or DIP0733), DIP1281, etc.) and their role in the pathogenesis of the disease.. Information about the clinical and epidemiological characteristics and modern methods of laboratory diagnostics of diphtheria is presented. The algorithm of bacteriological research and methods for determining the toxigenic properties of the pathogen are described. The basics of diphtheria vaccination as the only effective means of preventing mass outbreaks of this disease are considered in the framework of the proposed lecture. Knowledge of the peculiarities of the circulation of strains of Corynebacterium diphtheria in modern conditions, pathogenetic and clinical-epidemiological features of diphtheria, as well as modern methods of laboratory diagnostics is important and necessary for students of medical schools and infectious diseases doctors, pediatricians, bacteriologists, therapists, pulmonologists, epidemiologists, etc.