From the Guidelines
No, the diphtheria toxoid vaccine is not used to treat people who already have diphtheria. The primary treatment for active diphtheria infection is diphtheria antitoxin, which neutralizes the toxin produced by the bacteria, combined with antibiotics such as penicillin or erythromycin. The antitoxin works by binding to toxin that hasn't yet entered cells, preventing further damage, while antibiotics kill the bacteria to stop toxin production. The diphtheria toxoid vaccine (typically given as DTaP, Tdap, or DT) is preventive, not therapeutic, as it stimulates the immune system to develop protection before exposure occurs, as noted in the recommendations for vaccine use and other preventive measures 1. It contains inactivated toxin that cannot cause disease but triggers antibody production. Once someone is actively infected, the vaccine would be too slow to generate immunity and wouldn't help with the current infection. However, recovering patients should receive the vaccine during convalescence since having diphtheria doesn't always confer reliable immunity against future infections. Key points to consider include:
- The diphtheria toxoid vaccine provides long-term protection against diphtheria, lasting at least 10 years 1.
- Vaccination reduces the risk of developing diphtheria and results in milder illnesses in vaccinated persons who do develop the disease 1.
- The vaccine does not eliminate carriage of C. diphtheriae, meaning vaccinated individuals can still carry and spread the bacteria, even if they themselves are protected against the disease 1.
From the Research
Treatment for Diphtheria
- The cornerstone of treatment for diphtheria is diphtheria antitoxin, not the toxoid vaccine 2, 3.
- Diphtheria antitoxin is used to treat individuals who already have the disease, and its effectiveness is inversely proportional to the duration of the illness before its administration 2.
- The toxoid vaccine, on the other hand, is used to prevent diphtheria and is typically administered as part of a routine childhood vaccination schedule 2, 4.
Role of Toxoid Vaccine
- The toxoid vaccine is effective in preventing symptomatic disease, with a reported effectiveness of 87% after three doses 4.
- However, vaccinated individuals can still become colonized and transmit the disease, highlighting the importance of isolation and antibiotics in addition to vaccination 4.
- The toxoid vaccine is not used to treat individuals who already have diphtheria, but rather to prevent the disease in healthy individuals 2, 3.