Author
Mimi R. Precit, PhD, D(ABMM), M(ASCP)CM
Providence Health and Services, Oregon Region
Portland, Oregon
Primary Audience: Pathologists and Clinical Scientists
Secondary Audience: Residents, Laboratory Technologist/Scientist (Includes all sub-specialty areas), Students, Pathologist Assistants, Laboratory Directors and Educators
Upon completion of this activity, you will be able to:
· discuss clinical presentations and patient risk factors for Corynebacterium diphtheriae wound infections;
· explain key differences between non-toxigenic wound/cutaneous diphtheria and toxigenic respiratory diphtheria characteristics and severity;
· recognize common microbiological features of wound cultures from which Corynebacterium diphtheriae is recovered; and
· generate workflow considerations for clinical microbiology laboratories to ensure identification, work up, and characterization of Corynebacterium diphtheriae isolates.