Understanding the role of toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae in skin infections in northern Australia

Authors

  • Dr Hannah Gooding Clinical Microbiologist, PathWest Microbiology, PP Block, QEII Campus, Nedlands, WA 6019, Australia
  • Adjunct Associate Professor Allison Hempenstall Public Health Physician, Kimberley Population Health Unit, 4/9 Napier Terrace, Broome, WA 6725, Australia; Adjunct Associate Professor, College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, 14-88 McGregor Road, Smithfield, QLD 4878, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2026.50.064

Keywords:

corynebacterium diphtheriae, public health, skin infection, outbreak

Abstract

Important uncertainties remain regarding the role of coinfection, asymptomatic carriage, and the contribution of toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae to clinical disease. This Letter to the Editor highlights several key unanswered questions and emphasises the need for a better understanding of this re-emerging infection to inform diagnosis, microbiological testing, clinical management, and public health responses.

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References

Australian Centre for Disease Control (Australian CDC). Diphtheria in Australia – Epidemiological update – 24 August 2026. Canberra: Australian CDC; 28 August 2026. [Accessed on 1 September 2026.] Available from: https://www.cdc.gov.au/resources/publications/diphtheria-australia-epidemiological-update-24-august-2026.

Draper AD, Sistrom M, McMahon K, Duguid R, Chen J, Cramp G et al. Diphtheria outbreak, Northern Territory of Australia, 2025 to 2026. Euro Surveill. 2026;31(23):2600443. doi: https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2026.31.23.2600443.

Chêne L, Morand JJ, Badell E, Toubiana J, Janvier F, Marthinet H et al. Cutaneous diphtheria from 2018 to 2022: an observational, retrospective study of epidemiological, microbiological, clinical, and therapeutic characteristics in metropolitan France. Emerg Microbes Infect. 2024;13(1):2408324. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/22221751.2024.2408324.

Lowe CF, Bernard KA, Romney MG. Cutaneous diphtheria in the urban poor population of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: a 10-year review. J Clin Microbiol. 2011;49(7):2664–6. doi: https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.00362-11.

Tessier E, Hennart M, Badell E, Passet V, Toubiana J, Biron A et al. Genomic epidemiology of Corynebacterium diphtheriae in New Caledonia. Microbiol Spectr. 2023;11(3):e0461622. doi: https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.04616-22.

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Published

29/09/26

How to Cite

Gooding, Hannah, and Allison Hempenstall. 2026. “Understanding the Role of Toxigenic Corynebacterium Diphtheriae in Skin Infections in Northern Australia”. Communicable Diseases Intelligence 50 (September). https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2026.50.064.

Issue

Vol. 50 (2026)

Section

Recently published

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