Fulminant infective endocarditis with toxin-negative Corynebacterium diphtheriae in people with substance use experiencing homelessness, England, 2024 to 2025
Between July 2024 and January 2025, five male patients in their early 20s to early 50s were confirmed with infective endocarditis associated with non-toxigenic <i>Corynebacterium diphtheriae</i> in England. Three were known to have experienced homelessness. All five used non-intravenous recreational drugs. Disease progression was rapid, four patients required surgical intervention, one died. Whole-genome sequencing and multilocus sequence type (MLST) analysis identified four individuals as ST559. Clinicians and substance use services have been alerted and enhanced surveillance implemented. A prevalence study is planned.
Authors
- Joshua C D'Aeth (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9636-9886)
- Taimoor Anwar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1918-6832)
- Gayatri Amirthalingam (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2078-0975)
- Anna Aryee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9537-8011)
- C Primus (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7464-5210)
- Eleni Mavrogiorgou
- David Litt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9215-0553)
- Karthik Paranthaman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5633-8559)
- Rebecca Cordery
- Satya Das
- T. B. Patel
- Nikolaos Karogiannis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7267-4539)
- Natasa Utjesanovic
Institutions
- Barts Health NHS Trust (GB)
- East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust (GB)
- UK Health Security Agency (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Eurosurveillance
- Published
- 2025-04-03
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.es.2025.30.13.2500148
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Diphtheria, Corynebacterium, and Tetanus
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.80