Nasopharyngeal Corynebacterium ulcerans diphtheria in the Netherlands

A 59 year old woman was admitted to hospital with a three day history of a sore throat and increasing dysphagia. During treatment with oral penicillin for one day, pain and dysphagia progressed and the patient was admitted. On examination, she was afebrile, her soft palate and uvula were swollen, and a membraneous exudate was seen on the soft palate and nasopharynx.