摘要
白喉是由产毒素类细菌白喉棒状杆菌引起的呼吸道或皮肤的表面感染所致。病原体不会主动地侵犯深部组织或血液，但可在局部繁殖，产生白喉毒素。这导致了粘膜细胞的坏死和厚的灰白色假膜的产生，假膜包含纤维蛋白、上皮细胞、细菌和中性粒细胞。毒素播散进入血液循环引起神经系统和心肌的毒性并发症。
Diphtheria is caused by superficial infection of the respiratory tract or skin with toxin-producing strains of the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The organisms do not actively invade deep tissue or the blood, but multiply locally, producing diphtheria toxin. This results in necrosis of the mucosal cells and production of a thick, grey pseudomembrane containing fibrin, epithelial cells, bacteria and neutrophils. Diffusion of toxin into the circulation causes toxic neurological and my- ocardial complications.
