A CASE of a deadly bacterial infection has been reported in Ireland – and it’s only the third since 1967.
A recent lockdown has been imposed at an IPAS centre after a resident tested positive for diphtheria.
Originally from East Africa, the 19-year-old had been living at the facility for two years and was diagnosed after visiting a GP with a sore throat.
During his medical examination, doctors noticed a grey membrane in his throat, which is one of the first signs of diphtheria.
He was quickly admitted to the hospital and treated with a diphtheria anti-toxin and IV antibiotics.
Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that mostly affects the respiratory system.
The bacteria produce toxins that can damage tissues and organs, and can lead to severe complications like heart failure, paralysis or airway blockage.
In severe cases, diphtheria can be fatal, even with treatment.
The IPAS facility has since restricted new admissions and isolated anyone showing symptoms of the illness.
After the discovery, a vaccination clinic was set up at the centre; however, only about a third of residents chose to receive the vaccine.
The centre’s health team also immediately began contact tracing and planned a visit to the patient’s workplace to identify potential sources of infection.
A report published in the Irish Medical Journal revealed that conditions at the centre were “crowded” and that the facility had not met standard infection control guidelines.
The report also noted that communication was challenging due to the diversity of residents, as they mostly spoke different languages.
Translated materials about diphtheria have since been made available to the residents at the centre.
This is only the third case of diphtheria in Ireland in almost 60 years, with the previous two occurring in 2015 and 2016.
Here are the main signs of the illness:
SIGNS OF DIPHTERIA
- Sore throat: The infection usually begins with a severe sore throat.
- Thick grey or white membrane in the throat: One of the main signs is a thick, greyish membrane that forms in the throat.
- Swollen lymph nodes: As the body responds to the infection, the lymph nodes in the neck swell.
- Fever: Patients then usually develop a mild to moderate fever.
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing: The grey membrane in the throat can obstruct the airways.
Thanks to widespread vaccination starting in the 1930s, diphtheria was largely wiped out in Ireland, but it remains a major threat in parts of the world.
Diphtheria can be deadly, with up to 10 per cent of cases resulting in death even with treatment.
Patients can also experience extreme weakness and, in severe cases, die within 10 days.
In some cases, severe diphtheria leads to paralysis or heart failure.
