The European Laboratory Working Group on Diphtheria: A global microbiologic network

Increasing international travel, migration to and from epidemic areas, and the emergence of epidemic Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains globally have highlighted the need for better microbiologic surveillance and greater cli nical and laboratory awareness. As part of the strategy developed by the Wo rld Health Organization, one major goal is particularly applicable to the m icrobiology and epidemiology of diphtheria: to improve surveillance for ear ly detection of emerging and reemerging diseases by establishing a network of national and international laboratories, The European Laboratory Working Group on Diphtheria (ELWGD) was therefore formed in 1993 as a result of th e epidemic situation in Eastern Europe. Currently there is participation fr om 20 different countries from Western and Eastern Europe, the United State s, Australia, and Southeast Asia. ELWGD is a prime example of a collaborati ve and coordinated approach to the microbiology of diphtheria and should se rve as a potential model for other infectious diseases networks.