Fatal diphtheria myocarditis in a 3-year-old girl-related to late availability and administration of antitoxin?

Abstract

Sporadic cases of diphtheria are very rare throughout Europe. A 3-year-old incompletely vaccinated girl was admitted with pharyngotonsillitis caused by diphtheria. On day 9 of her illness, renal and cardiac failure with a third-degree AV-block occurred. Unfortunately, she died within 36 h of admission to intensive care, despite pacemaker placement, the administration of antibiotics and diphtheria antitoxin. The delayed antitoxin administration 7 days after admission to hospital was related to a lack of availability and knowledge of its availability in Europe and this is likely to have contributed to the unfavourable outcome.

Keywords: Corynebacterium diphtheria; Diphtheria; antitoxin; fatality; myocarditis.