Abstract
Summary and Conclusions
A modified rapid cultural method for the diagnosis of clinical diphtheria is described whereby accurate reports may be rendered in over 80% of cases within 2 hours, and in 95% within 4 hours, as compared to the average of 83% accuracy at the end of 18 hours by the usual Loeffler's slant method. The method seems to us to be of great value in establishing early diagnosis and treatment in the disease. It further provides for the securing of pure cultures within 18 hours for toxicity tests, thus reducing the necessary period of isolation and possible exposure to true diphtheria for non-toxic carriers, a matter of grave importance, to patient and hospital alike. We feel that the method should supplant the older, more cumbersome procedure in all contagious hospitals, and that it should be utilized very largely by health departments both in their diagnostic and release cultures as an adjunct to their present methods. We are convinced that by earlier diagnosis and treatment the mortality of the disease should be further reduced. We believe that the carrier problem is materially improved with appreciable effective saving of hospital days to both the individual and the institution.
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