Padova hospital isolates 22-year-old with diphtheria

A 22-year-old man from Bangladesh has been hospitalized in serious condition with a diphtheria infection at the University Hospital of Padua. The patient is currently in isolation and receiving antibiotic therapy and antitoxin treatment sourced from the Pavia Poison Control Center.

Health authorities have identified approximately 100 contacts of the individual, all of whom are undergoing preventive antibiotic prophylaxis to limit the spread of the infection. Microbiological confirmation of the case was received on Sunday, October 11.

The incident has renewed discussions regarding vaccination coverage in Italy. Health experts noted that the resurgence of such diseases highlights the risks associated with declining vaccination rates, recalling a recent tragic case in Palermo where an unvaccinated child died from the same infection.