WHO Issues Comprehensive Guidelines for Diphtheria Management

• 19 Feb 2024

On 14^th February, 2024, WHO published evidence-based clinical management guidelines for diphtheria, addressing antibiotic use amid global outbreaks.

Key Points

• New WHO Guidelines: WHO releases comprehensive clinical management guidelines for diphtheria, focusing on evidence-based practices.
• Antibiotic Recommendations: WHO recommends macrolide antibiotics over penicillin antibiotics for suspected or confirmed diphtheria cases.
• Rationale behind Recommendations: The guidelines are prompted by the surge in diphtheria outbreaks in 2023, emphasizing the need for evidence-based protocols.
• Significance of Antibiotics: Antibiotics, along with diphtheria antitoxin and supportive care, are deemed crucial for managing diphtheria cases.
• Global Health Priorities: Diphtheria remains a neglected disease, highlighting the importance of vaccination and timely access to antibiotics and supportive care.
• Current Treatment Options: The guidelines outline neutralizing unbound toxins with diphtheria antitoxin, administering antibiotics, and providing supportive care.
• New Recommendations: WHO suggests using macrolide antibiotics, avoiding routine sensitivity testing before diphtheria antitoxin administration, and adjusting antitoxin dosing based on disease severity and symptom onset time.
• Importance of Timely Treatment: Administering antibiotics alongside diphtheria antitoxin without delay is crucial for improved patient outcomes.
• Addressing Antibiotic Resistance: WHO emphasizes the increasing resistance to penicillins and the importance of local antimicrobial susceptibility testing for appropriate antibiotic selection.