Investigation of choice of diphtheria carrier is:-: (A) Throat Swab Culture, (B) Gram's stain, (C) Albe stain, (D) Zeihl Neelsen stain
Answer is A. Investigation of choice of diphtheria carrier is throat swab. Carriers are detected by cultural methods - swabs are taken from nose and throat and it is examined by culture methods for diphtheria bacilli. Source of infection: Carriers (95%) are more common source of infection than cases (5%). Types of Carriers: Temporary (persists for a month) Chronic (persists for a year) Nasal carriers are more dangerous due to frequent shedding than throat carriers. Option 2, 3: Gram Stain and Albe stain aids in identification of C. diphtheriae but not the Investigation of choice of diphtheria carrier. Option 4: Zeihl Neelsen stain: for Mycobacterium species.