Workshop on laboratory diagnosis of diphtheria. Report (2018)

Workshop report

11–13 October 2017, Nicosia, Cyprus

The workshop on laboratory diagnosis of diphtheria was a collaborative effort by the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Diphtheria and Streptococcal Infections, Public Health England, United Kingdom and the WHO Regional Office for Europe. It was hosted by the Medical School of the University of Cyprus, Cyprus, and was attended by 12 laboratory personnel nominated by 11 newly independent states: one each from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and two from Ukraine. The workshop served to increase awareness about corynebacteria infections among participating laboratory personnel and equipped them with skills to laboratory confirm the disease, and to identify toxigenic strains and types of corynebacteria.