• A recent study looked into a worrying increase in infections from non-toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae in Washington State.

• Non-toxigenic C. diphtheriae is a strain that does not produce the toxin responsible for classic diphtheria, but can still cause infections.

• The number of cases in Washington rose ten times between 2012 and 2023, mostly around King County.

• The investigation found that most infections were in people without stable housing or who had recently used illegal drugs.

• While skin wounds were the most common site of infection (78%), blood (12%) and other body fluids were also affected.

• Some patients developed serious complications like endocarditis (4%).

• The toxin directly caused no direct deaths, but 14 patients died during the study period.

• Also, evidence suggests that the increased use of advanced laboratory techniques probably did not cause the rise in cases.

• The findings are similar to a 2011 Canadian study, pointing to a trend among vulnerable populations.

Click here to read more.