Diphtheria and AMR in asylum seekers, Germany

We screened 1,073 asylum seekers arriving in Heidelberg, Germany (August–October 2024), for toxigenic Corynebacteria and antibiotic-resistant wound infections. No diphtheria cases were identified, but 1.7% had MRSA-infected wounds. Low immunity levels and antimicrobial resistance findings underline the importance of early diagnosis and treatment options in displaced populations.