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Prevention of diphtheria
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
The main role in the prevention of diphtheria is played by active immunization - vaccination against diphtheria. For this purpose, diphtheria toxoid is used, which is a diphtheria toxin devoid of toxic properties, adsorbed on aluminum hydroxide (AD-anatoxoid). In practical work, AD-anatoxoid is practically not used in isolated form; it is included in the so-called complex vaccines.
- The DPT vaccine consists of a mixture of corpuscular pertussis vaccine, diphtheria and tetanus toxoids. One vaccinating dose of such a vaccine (0.5 ml) contains at least 30 international immunizing units (IU) of purified diphtheria toxoid (15 LF), at least 60 IU (5 EU) of purified tetanus toxoid and 10 billion killed pertussis microbial cells. Merthiolate (1:10,000) is used as a preservative. The vaccine may contain trace amounts of formaldehyde and aluminum hydroxide.
- ADS toxoid is purified and adsorbed diphtheria and tetanus toxoids. One vaccinating dose contains at least 3 IU of diphtheria toxoid and at least 40 IU of tetanus toxoid. Other components are the same as in the DTP vaccine.
- ADS-M toxoid differs from the previous vaccine in its reduced antigen content - one vaccination dose (0.5 ml) contains 5 LF of diphtheria toxoid and 5 EC of tetanus toxoid.
There are practically no contraindications to vaccination against diphtheria. In children with mild manifestations of ARVI, vaccination can be started immediately after the temperature has returned to normal, and in case of moderate and severe acute infectious diseases - 2 weeks after recovery. In all other cases, including patients with chronic liver, kidney, lung diseases, as well as patients with hemoblastoses and immunodeficiencies, vaccination is carried out during the remission period under the supervision of a physician in the immunoprophylaxis office according to individual schemes.
Of other preventive measures, anti-epidemic measures are important - hospitalization of patients and sanitization of carriers of bacteria, quarantine measures and disinfection in the outbreak. Epidemiological surveillance includes monitoring the state of specific immunity in the population, as well as sources of infection, identification of carriers of bacteria, etc.
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